LARID&. 147 



ORDER V. NATATORES. 



Family LARID^E. 



COMMON TERN (Sterna hirundo). There is perhaps 

 scarcely a more graceful bird on the wing than the 

 Tern, or Sea Swallow as it is called ; and it is a 

 pleasing sight to watch a party of these birds on a 

 calm day hovering over the receding waves, and 

 anon darting down to secure their slippery prey for 

 their young further up on the beach. 



This species, like the Arctic, Black, and Lesser 

 Terns, is a passing visitor in spring and autumn, 

 though individuals are occasionally seen during the 

 winter months. A common Tern was killed by 

 Mr. Hall, of Windsor, in the month of November, 

 1865, as it was skimming over the Thames near 

 Boveney Locks. Specimens have been obtained at 

 Amersham ; and Mr. Burgess informs me that it has 

 been met with near Slapton. In the autumn of the 

 year 1848, Mr. H. Daly killed one of these birds in a 

 field near Eton, called the * Brocas.' Another was 

 shot by Mr. Howard, in 1851, at a place called Lake- 

 end, not far from Burnham. This Tern is occasionally 



L 2 



