LITTLE-TERN 111 



laid in an unlined depression, and occasionally among stones without 

 depression. It will be seen therefore that the little-tern, like its 

 congeners, displays marked individual variations in its nest-building. 

 It makes either no nest, or a bared depression in the ground, or a 

 lined depression. Examples of all three classes may be found in the 

 same colony. The nature of the lining also varies, but not so much 

 as in the case of the other terns, for the reason, no doubt, that a 

 smaller variety of suitable material is available on the beach than 

 farther inland. 



Like the common and Arctic, the little-tern usually makes several 

 depressions or scrapes before it selects the final spot for its eggs. The 

 depression is made by the simple process of pressing the breast down 

 into the ground and rotating (see p. 87), the sand or soil being no 

 doubt, as in the case of the above-mentioned terns, scratched out 

 backward during the process with the feet. 1 



The eggs are laid usually in the latter part of May. The male, 

 both at this stage and before, is assiduous in feeding the hen. When 

 presenting his fish, he strikes the same remarkable postures as the 

 terns previously described (Plate 98). The little-tern is, in fact, just 

 as fascinating to watch as its larger congeners. By "watching" I 

 mean not marching about over its breeding-ground, but sitting, with a 

 good binocular in hand, some fifty yards away from the colony ; sitting 

 still, and for hours at a time, and day after day. It is only thus that 

 one comes to realise how extraordinarily interesting the birds are, 

 and how extraordinarily little we know about their intimate life. 

 It is true that the same acts are performed over and over again, 

 but seldom or never in exactly the same way. There is repetition 

 with variation, and these variations are worth close and careful 

 study. 



The chicks are hatched in less than three weeks. Like those of 

 the species of this genus already described, they vary considerably in 



1 The Sandwich also no doubt acts in exactly the same way, but I have never had an 

 opportunity of seeing it at work. 



