Gavice 221 



have habits that vary somewhat from the normal, and 

 these will be considered under the several headings. 

 Gulls build a large nest of grass or sea-weed, mixed with 

 refuse, or, on lakes, of water-weeds, rushes, and flags ; 

 they lay two or three eggs of a greenish or olive-brown 

 colour with spots and blotches of dark brown and grey. 

 Terns scrape a hole in the turf, among shingle or sand, 

 or even make use of rocks, and add little or no lining, 

 the two or three eggs being cream-coloured, green, or 

 brown in ground-colour with bold markings of brown, 

 grey, or black. The Black Tern and its congeners are 

 exceptional in making nests in marshy places of water- 

 weeds, which sometimes almost float on the surface; 

 the Sooty and the Noddy Tern (p. 261 ) in laying a creamy 

 white egg with lilac and brownish red spots. The latter 

 commonly makes a nest of grass and rubbish and places 

 it on the top of a low tree or bush. In conclusion it 

 should be observed that, except for stray individuals, 

 no Terns remain with us in winter. 



SUBFAMILY Sterninae, OR TERNS 



The Black Tern (Hydrochelidon nigra), which is 

 blackish grey rather than black with red-brown feet 

 and black bill, and is somewhat lighter above, used 

 to breed until the middle of last century in Norfolk, 

 and at earlier dates in Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire, 

 besides several parts of East Anglia, where it was 

 called the "Blue Darr " or " Carr-S wallow." It is 

 now only a visitor, which occurs at various times of 

 year and sometimes remains as late as May. Abroad 

 it ranges from Holland, Denmark, and the Baltic to 

 the Obb River, Lake Zaisan and north Africa. The food 

 consists largely of insects, but is varied by fish, newts, 



