SEA-SWALLOWS. 



397 



Sea- Swallow's, which in other respects it closely resembles : 

 the lower mandible is the shortest, and the other shuts upon 

 it like the two blades of a pair of scissors. 



Sea-Swallow. 



Terns, or Sea-Swallows, have very long and very pointed 

 wings, \vith forked tails and short feet, in which they 

 resemble Swallows; but their mode of flight is very different, 

 not having that darting rapid course, but a sort of graceful 

 gliding motion, sometimes high in the air, then falling as 

 if they had lost their balance. Though perfectly web-footed, 

 they never swim, but take their food, consisting of small 

 fishes or insects, by descending to the water, and gently 

 touching the surface with their beaks. 



We have four species in this country, either residents, or 

 occasional visitors. Those which breed here, generally lay 

 three or four eggs, without any nest, preferring a low 

 shingly shore, on which, we believe, the bird sits in the 

 usual manner ; but as it has been ascertained that an 

 American species deposits her eggs in a similar situation, 

 _and leaves them to be hatched principally by the heat of the 



