156 STERNA MINUTA. 



249. STERXA XlffUTA, LIVVJEVS. LESSER TERK. 

 WILSON, PLATE LX. FIG. II. EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 



THIS beautiful little species looks like the preceding 

 in miniature, but surpasses it far in the rich glossy 

 satin-like white plumage with which its throat, breast, 

 and whole lower parts, are covered. Like the former, 

 it is also a bird of passage, but is said not to extend its 

 migrations to so high a northern latitude, being more 

 delicate and susceptible of cold. It arrives on the coast 

 somewhat later than the other, but in equal and perhaps 

 greater numbers ; coasts along the shores, and also over 

 the pools in the salt marshes, in search of prawns, of 

 which it is particularly fond ; hovers, suspended in the 

 air, for a few moments above its prey, exactly in the 

 manner of some of our small hawks, and dashes head- 

 long down into the water after it, generally seizing it 

 with its bill ; mounts instantly again to the same height, 

 and moves slowly along as before, eagerly examining 

 the surface below. About the 2oth of May, or begin- 

 ning of June, the female begins to lay. The eggs are 

 dropt on the dry and warm sand, the heat of which, 

 during the day, is fully sufficient for the purpose of 

 incubation. This heat is sometimes so great, that one 

 can scarcely bear the hand in it for a few moments 

 without inconvenience. The wonder would therefore 

 be the greater, should the bird sit on her eggs during 

 the day, when her warmth is altogether unnecr 

 and perhaps injurious, than that she should cover them 

 only during the damps of night, and in wet and stormy 

 weather; and furnishes another proof that the actions 

 of birds are not the effect of mere blind impulse, but 

 of volition, regulated by reason, depending on various 

 incidental circumstances to which their parental < 

 are ever awake. I lately visited those parts of the 

 beach on Cane May where this little bird breeds. The 

 eggs, generally four in number, were placed on the flat 

 sands, safe beyond the reach of the highest summer 



