BIRDS OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 197 



On the drainage of the Fens, and consequent de- 

 struction of their breeding- quarters, they forsook the 

 county ; and I am not aware that there is now any 

 nesting-place of this species in Lincolnshire. 



Mr. Alington, however, has seen them of late years 

 in the neighbourhood of Boston during the summer ; 

 so that it is possible some few pairs may still annually 

 continue to nest with us*. 



It is not uncommon on our shores in the autumn, 

 principally immature birds; but occasionally we 

 meet with mature specimens in the black or sooty 

 plumage. 



Mr. Boulton has had several, both in the mature 

 and immature plumage, killed during the autumn at 

 Spurn or the neighbourhood of Flamborough. Se- 

 veral were observed in the neighbourhood of that 

 Headland in the spring of 1867. 



255. STERNA LEUCOPTERA, Meisner and Schinz. 

 White-winged Black Tern. 



In the spring of 1867 a single mature bird of this 

 beautiful Mediterranean Tern was seen for some days 

 in the neighbourhood of Flamborough. It was not, 

 however, procured. 



In the same year, on the 27th of June, a very fine 

 adult male was shot on Hickling Broad, Norfolk. 



The Rev. R. Lubbock, in his ( Fauna of Norfolk/ 1845, says 

 that eggs of the Black Tern had been recently obtained at Crow- 

 land Wash in Lincolnshire. 



