TERN. NATATORES. STERNA. 469 



other species, when flying in company with them. It feeds Food, 

 upon small fish, which are taken in the same way as by the 

 others of this genus ; but, according to MONTAGU, it pos- 

 sesses a habit which I have not observed in the rest, that of 

 pursuing and persecuting the lesser gulls till they disgorge 

 their recent prey, which is caught and swallowed by it ere 

 it reaches the water. In the Supplement to the Ornitholo- 

 gical Dictionary, MONTAGU has attached the Sterna Ncevui 

 of LINNAEUS and GMELIN, and also the Guifette of BUFFON, 

 as synonyms to this species; but I feel more inclined to 

 adopt TEMMINCKS opinion, viz. that they are more imme- 

 diately referable to the Sterna nigra, than to the present 

 species. The Common Tern is widely distributed through- 

 out the ancient continents and islands, and during the breed- 

 ing season is found as far to the northward as Greenland 

 and Spitzbergen. The species described by WILSON, in the 

 American Ornithology, as Sterna Hirundo, is clearly dis- 

 tinct, and has by the Prince of Musignano been appro- 

 priately named Sterna Wilsonii. The Tern breeds upon Incuba- 

 the sand or shingle beyond high- water-mark, making no ar- tlon ' &c< 

 tificial nest, but scraping a slight concavity for the reception 

 of two or three eggs, which vary very much in colour ; the 

 ground in some being of a deep oil-green, in others of a 

 cream-white, or pale wood-brown, but all blotched with 

 blackish-brown and ash-grey. In warm and clear weather 

 this bird incubates little during the day, in such situation 

 the influence of the sun upon the eggs being sufficient ; but 

 it sits upon them in the night, and also through the day 

 under a less favourable state of weather. The young when 

 excluded are covered with a mottled grey and white down, 

 and are assiduously attended by the parents, and well sup- 

 plied with food, until able to fly, and accompany them to 

 sea. During the time of incubation the old birds display 

 great anxiety, and are very clamorous when any one ap- 

 proaches their station, in flying round and frequently de- 

 scending so near as to strike the hat of the intruder. 



