H2 OUR MIGRANT BIRDS 



Plumage. Head and nape black ; upper parts pearl- 

 grey. Rump and tail white ; under parts vinous grey. 

 Bill orange-red, with horn-coloured tip. Legs and feet 

 orange-red. Tail well forked. Length 14^ in. Female 

 similar. In winter forehead flecked with white ; under 

 parts purer white, and bill and feet duller. Young : 

 brownish white forehead ; upper parts bluish grey, 

 mottled with greyish brown ; brownish grey band on 

 upper wing-coverts ; under parts white ; legs and feet 

 reddish brown. Nestling : covered with down ; yellow- 

 ish brown above, mottled with black ; throat and fore- 

 head brown, white below ; feet yellow. 



Language. A harsh cry, like " cree-cree-cree-ee." 

 Habits. Its method of fishing is like that of all Terns, 

 viz., precipitating itself into the water to catch surface- 

 swimming fish. On the wing it is an adept at doubling 

 and wheeling most rapidly, almost vying with the 

 Swallow (hence Sea Swallow). It swims well, but is a 

 poor walker. Breeds in Terneries. 



Food. Fish, sand-eels, and Crustacea. 



Nest. May to June. One brood. 



Site. In a hollow in the sand or shingle, not far above 

 high-water mark ; also on tumbled masses of isolated 

 rocks. 



Materials. If any, a few bents. 



Eggs. Two or three. Yellowish stone to olive, 

 spotted and blotched with deep brown and grey. Like 

 Arctic Tern's, but less boldly marked. 



ARCTIC TERN (Sternus macrura). 



May to September. Especially abundant on the 

 northern and western coasts. In the south it breeds on 

 the Scilly Islands, and sparingly at a few places on the 



