LESSER TERN. 



519 



NA TA TORES. 



LAR1DJE- 



THE LESSER TEEN. 



Sterna minuta. 



Sterna minuta. Lesser Tern. PENN. Brit. Zool. vol. ii. p. 198. 



MONTAGU, Ornith. Diet. 



BEWICK, Brit. Birds, vol ii. p. 209. 



FLEM. Brit. An. p. 144. 



SELBY, Brit. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 475. 



JENYNS, Brit. Vert. p. 267. 



Little GOULD, Birds of Europe, pt. viii. 

 Petite Hirondelle de mer, TEMM. Man. d'Ornith. vol. ii. p. 752. 



THIS pretty little bird, the smallest of the British Terns, 

 but one of the most elegant as well as delicate examples 

 of the species, is not uncommon during summer on such 

 parts of the coast of the British Islands as are suited to 

 its habits. It appears to prefer low flat shores, or islets, 

 of sand, broken shells, or small shingle, coming here early 

 in May, and laying two or three eggs before the end of 

 that month in any small accidental depression in the 



