BLACK TEEN. 49 



calculations in setting out. Meyer says that it has frequently 

 been observed that the Black Tern is so exceedingly quick 

 and dexterous on the wing, that Hawks find it generally 

 difficult, if not impossible, to strike one, and are frequently 

 obliged to give up the pursuit. Montagu was a witness to 

 one such instance, and mentions 'a chase of this bird by a 

 Peregrine Falcon, whose repeated pounces it foiled, and from 

 whom it ultimately escaped, by the dexterity and singular 

 quickness of its manoeuvres.' They swim only from necessity, 

 not from choice, and walk or run but little, almost the whole 

 of their time being passed in the air. 



They live on insects, dragon-flies and others, small fish, 

 young frogs, and worms. Those articles of food that belong 

 to the water, they dip down at, and so pick up; any on the 

 land, they alight beside for an instant, and then fly off with. 



Their call-note is thought to be like the word 'kear, kear,' 

 uttered in a rather soft and plaintive manner. 



These birds build together in great numbers; they choose 

 for the purpose swampy places among moors or fens. Their 

 nests are either placed in some slight mound of earth, or tuft 

 of grass or rushes, close to or floated on the water, among the 

 kindred stems and stalks of flags and reeds, and with grass 

 for the inner portion. 



The eggs are three in number, and still oftener four, and 

 of a rather dark olive green or olive brown colour, blotted and 

 spotted with deep brown or black, principally at the larger end. 



The young are produced in fifteen or sixteen days. 



Male; weight, about two ounces and three quarters; length, 

 nine inches and three quarters to ten inches; the bill is flattened 

 at the sides, black and polished, with a tinge of crimson at 

 the base, the inside of the mouth red; iris, dark dusky brown. 

 Head and crown, dark leaden grey, nearly black, in winter 

 white or nearly so, as is the space between the bill and the 

 eye; neck and nape, dark leaden grey, also white in winter; 

 chin, throat, and breast, deep blackish grey in summer, the 

 former white in winter; back, deep slate-colour. 



The wings have the first quill feather the longest; they expand 

 to the width of one foot ten inches, and reach, when closed, 

 two inches beyond the end of the tail; the outer web of the 

 first is black, and a narrow pale stripe borders the edge of the 

 inner. Primaries, slate-colour, bordered with a lighter shade 

 on the ends of the inner webs of the two first. Tail, dark 

 slate-colour, not much forked; under tail coverts, white. Legs 



VOL. VIII. E 



