THE LITTLE (OR LESSER) TERN 279 



that of the Gulls. Very frequently a single Tern may be observed 

 pursuing its course in a line with the breakers on a sandy shore at 

 the distance perhaps of from fifty to a hundred yards from the beach. 

 Its beak is pointed downwards, and the bird is evidently on the 

 look-out for prey. Suddenly it descends perpendicularly into the 

 water, making a perceptible splash, but scarcely disappearing. 

 In an instant it has recovered the use of its wings and ascends again, 

 swallowing some small fish meanwhile if it has been successful, but 

 in any case continuing its course as before. I do not recollect 

 ever to have seen a Tern sit on the water to devour its prey when 

 fishing among the breakers. Often, too, as one is walking along 

 the shore, or sailing in a boat, when the sea is calm, a cruising party 

 of Terns comes in sight. Their flight now is less direct than in the 

 instance just mentioned, as they ' beat ' the fishing-ground after 

 the fashion of spaniels, still, however, making way ahead. Sud- 

 denly one of the party arrests its flight, hovers for a few seconds 

 like a Hawk, and decends as if shot, making a splash as before. 

 If unsuccessful it rises at once, but if it has captured the object on 

 which it swooped, it remains floating on the water until it has re- 

 lieved itself of its incumbrance by the summary process of swallow- 

 ing it. I do not know a prettier sight than a party of Terns thus 

 occupied. They are by no means shy, frequently flying quite 

 over the boat, and uttering from time to time a short scream, 

 which, though not melodious, is more in keeping with the scene 

 than a mellow song would be. 



In rough weather they repair to sheltered bays, ascend estuaries, 

 or follow the course of a river until they have advanced far inland. 

 They are harbingers of summer quite as much as the Swallow itself, 

 coming to us in May and leaving in September for some warmer 

 coast. They usually breed on flat shores, laying two or three eggs 

 on the ground, in marshes, or on sandy shingle. The eggs in my 

 collection were procured on the coast of Norfolk, but I have seen 

 the birds themselves in the greatest numbers in Belfast Lough and 

 in Loch Crinan. They have bred as far north as Sutherland. 



THE LITTLE (OR LESSER) TERN 



STERNA MINUTA 



Bill orange, with a black tip ; feet orange ; forehead, and a streak above 

 the eye, white ; crown black ; upper parts pearl-grey ; under, white ; 

 tail much forked, shorter than the wings. Young birds have the head 

 brownish, with darker streaks ; upper plumage yellowish white and dusky ; 

 bill pale yellow, with a dark tip ; legs dull yellow. Length eight and a 

 half inches. Eggs stone-colour, spotted and speckled with grey and 

 brown. 



On the sandy and marshy shores of Norfolk, the Lesser Tern is a 

 bird of common occurrence in summer, either single, or in small 



