AECTIC TEEN 395 



is one of the few countries where it breeds on the islands 

 of fresh-water lakes, such as Corrib, Mask, Carra, and 

 Melvin, all situate in the western province. 



Early in May, the Arctic Tern arrives in our Isles, 

 departing southward in August and September. Before 

 migrating, adults and young may be observed flying together 

 along the coast in search of food. 



Immature birds, one year old, are not often seen ; they 

 may be distinguished from Common Terns at a corre- 

 sponding age by their entirely black beaks. 1 



This bird is perhaps one of the bravest and most pug- 

 nacious of its kind. I have seen a small flock not only 

 assail, but even follow a Merlin over the sand, and with 

 wild screams and dashing flight, completely hinder the 

 little Falcon from following up the smaller shore-birds upon 

 which it so largely preys. " A flock has been seen to mob 

 and drown a Hooded Crow " (Saunders). 



Flight. The flight is particularly buoyant and on the 

 wing the Arctic Tern is difficult to identify 2 from the Com- 

 mon ; the latter is somewhat larger, and the fork of its tail 

 is shorter. 



Voice. The note, so often heard when the bird is over- 

 head, sometimes sounds harsher, and more prolonged than 

 that of the preceding species ; at other times the two voices 

 are practically indistinguishable. 



Food. This consists largely of fish captured after the 

 manner of other Terns. 



Nest. Marine islands fringed with loose stones and 

 shingle, as well as sandy beaches, are the favourite nest- 

 ing-sites, and immense colonies are frequently to be found in 

 such places. The eggs, two to three in number, are laid 

 either on bare rocks often quite close to the sea, or among 

 fragments of dry grasses or seaweeds, or they may occupy 

 a slight hollow in sand and shingle. They are subject to 

 much variation in colour ; some are light greenish-brown, 



1 On October 15th, 1890, I picked up an immature Arctic Tern on 

 Bray beach, twelve miles south of Dublin. The bird, in its second 

 autumn plumage, was fresh and in good condition, but soaking wet ; it 

 was probably washed ashore after a gale, 



- It is much easier to identify the two species when congregated on 

 bare, rocky islands. I have quietly sculled a boat close enough to see 

 the short feet and coral-red beaks of the Arctic Terns, an observation 

 all the more evident when the birds are standing on a rock which is 

 elevated to about the level of the observer's eye. 



