LITTLE TEEN 399 



the 'lining-shells' had been collected (Plate XL., figs. 1 

 and 2). But, again, in other situations, in the absence of 

 sand and shells I have found the eggs deposited on gravel 

 and soil, where practically no pretence whatever at the 

 formation of a nest could be made out. The eggs, two to 

 three in number, are of a cold stone-colour, finely or coarsely 

 spotted with ash-grey and brown, and closely harmonising 

 in shade with the sea-sand. They are at times laid in such 

 exposed situations and so close to the tide that, after a 

 severe gale accompanied by heavy rainfall, great numbers 

 of them may be swept away, those that remain often 

 becoming half-buried in the drifting sand. In this state I 

 have found deserted eggs, as late as July 13th. 



Incubation commences about the end of May or the 

 beginning of June, but is not general until the middle of 

 the latter month. 1 Colonies composed of limited numbers 

 of these birds breed around the British coast, including 

 marine islands ; in the latter situations they consort, to a 

 considerable extent, with Arctic and Common Terns. In 

 some districts the nesting-haunts are widely separated 

 from one another, while along certain coasts three or four 

 colonies may exist within a radius of ten miles. 2 



Of recent years this species has been recorded as nest- 

 ing in the Orkneys, and has bred since 1885 or 1886 in 

 the Outer Hebrides, the numbers having greatly increased 

 during recent years (Harvie-Brown). 3 



Several other islands on the western sea-board of 



1 The following analysis, made of a small colony which, so far as I 

 am aware, was unmolested, helps to bear out this statement : 



June llth, 1900, I visited a colony containing eighteen nests. Of 

 these 



Eight contained two eggs each ; 



Four three 



Six one egg 



that is to say, one-third of the total number of nests at that date con- 

 tained only one egg each, and of the eight containing two in each, the 

 full clutches were not necessarily represented. 



2 The Little Tern is killed in such numbers and in such a ruthless 

 manner, that I deem it inadvisable to indicate more precisely the posi- 

 tion of these localities. 



3 Mr. Harvie-Brown obtained two eggs from a colony in the Outer 

 Hebrides in 1900 (' Avifauna Of The Outer Hebrides,' 1888-1902. Ann. 

 Scot. Nat. Hist., 1903, p. 16). In Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist, for October, 

 1902, p. 197, Mr. T. G. Laidlaw mentions that this species nested in 

 Barra for the first time on record. 



