THE COMMON TERN. 243 



week in August, large flocks, consisting of some hundreds, 

 were observed on different days ; and in the same abun- 

 dance in Dublin Bay, on the authority of Joshua Lamprey, 

 Esq., who procured, at our request, many immature speci- 

 mens, and notes descriptive of their habits. That gentleman 

 remarked their habit of fishing more constantly when the 

 sun was shining upon the water than at any other time, so 

 much so that when, uncertain of their locality, he directed 

 the boatmen to row in that direction where the sun appeared 

 brightest, and where, if the birds were in the bay, he was cer- 

 tain to obtain as many as he wished. In one instance twenty- 

 eight birds were obtained out of thirty shots, and nothing but 

 a desire to procure rare specimens could have tempted him to 

 deal such havoc amongst the unoffending flock. 



To the observation of Mr. Irwin, of Roscommon, this tern 

 breeds in limited numbers upon small reedy islets in the lakes 

 of that county, and where he has obtained the eggs, respect- 

 ing which he has informed us of the following circum- 

 stance : " During the season of scarcity and famine in Ireland, 

 those breeding haunts were regularly searched by the pea- 

 sants in the neighbourhood to obtain eggs, and often with 

 such success that he has observed an apron filled with those 

 of the common tern, black-headed gull, water-hen, and bald- 

 coot." 



Other breeding places selected by this species are unfre- 

 quented extents of strand, where the eggs are deposited in 

 some natural depression of the sand amongst gravel, or in the 

 low bent grass on the shore. Often the casual observer is 

 taken by surprise at beholding the seemingly unprotected 

 eggs, and is pleased at their having escaped his footsteps. 

 He is yet more surprised at the absence of the birds from the 

 vicinity of the nest, and proceeds to appropriate the seem- 

 ingly neglected prize, when he is startled by the harsh and 

 grating screams of the parent birds, who by this time have 

 arrived in eager haste from their feeding station, generally 

 some short distance from land, and within sight of their nest. 

 With graceful flight they dart with velocity past the intruder, 

 abruptly turn, glide, and hover on tremulous wings, their full, 

 black, humid eyes speaking an agony of apprehension, their 

 tiny red feet shivering convulsively, and their piteous screams 

 bewailing the prospect of losing the fond objects of their fu- 

 ture cares. 



On one of those calm summer days, 



" The bridal of the earth and sky," 

 B2 



