158 



THE LITTLE TERN. 

 Sterna minuta, L. 



The first few birds arrived at their breeding- quarters on the 

 coast of Kent on the 11th of April, being followed by the 

 main body nine days later, while the final stragglers arrived 

 during the last few days of April and the first two days of May. 

 On April the 29th large numbers arrived on the Norfolk coast, 

 but after staying a short time the majority passed on, and 

 the bulk of the breeding birds of that district did not arrive 

 until the 15th of May. The Essex birds arrived on the 4th 

 of May. On the western side one or two birds arrived in 

 Merioneth during the last few days of April, the main 

 body arriving simultaneously in Somerset and N. Wales 

 on the 8th of May^ while in Lancashire the breeding-area 

 was reached on the 16th. Eggs were first reported from 

 Merioneth on the 22nd, and incubation had begun in Kent 

 on the 25th. 



Chronological Summary of the Records. 



April 11th. Kent. 



„ 18th. Kent (numbers). 



„ 29th. Norfolk (large numbers). Merioneth. 



May 1st. Wilts (passing). Merioneth (sHght in- 

 crease). 



„ 2nd. Kent (large numoers). 



„ 4th. Essex (few). Norfolk (decrease). 



„ 8th. Somerset (few). Merioneth (increase). 



„ 15th. Norfolk (many). 



