82 



NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



cry that in a moment brings together quite a gathering, which, after having satisfied 

 their curiosity, disperses by and by. If a new mound of earth be thrown up, or a 

 handkerchief or a piece of paper be lost, or if they see a recently killed bird lying, or 

 a captured one flapping its wings, immediately are they at hand, flutter and vacillate, 

 screaming over the object of their admiration, and, when through gaping and tired of 

 crying, fly off in different directions." 



Did space permit, long and interesting accounts could be given of the terns, but 

 we are compelled to dismiss them with but few words. 



FIG. 35. Sterna tschegrava, Caspian tern. 



The terns exhibit in their flight some remote resemblance to the swallows, which, 

 in connection with the usually deeply forked tail, has given rise to the name of sea- 

 swallows, as they are called in many languages ; while the elegance of their motions , 

 when on the wing has caused many, an enthusiastic outburst both of poets and 

 naturalists. " Light as a sylph," says Audubon, " the arctic tern dances through the 

 air above and around you. The Graces, one might imagine, had taught it to perform 

 those beautiful gambols which you see it display the moment you approach the spot 

 it has chosen for its nest." The terns only seize their prey, which usually consists of 

 small fishes, by darting headlong upon them from a considerable height, and the force 

 of their sudden and dashing plunges is really astonishing. " The descent of a tern, 



