

282 



This elegant species is extremely abundant on our coasts, flocks of a hundred or more being 

 often met with on the sand-banks at the river-mouths in association with Gulls and other shore- 

 birds of various kinds. 



The term " Sea-swallow," as applied to this Tern, is a very appropriate one ; for on watching 

 the evolutions of a flock of these birds one is forcibly reminded of a flight of Swallows coursing 

 in the air. Their aerial manoeuvres are truly beautiful ; and the apparent ease with which they 

 dip into the water and capture their finny prey cannot fail to interest an observer. They 

 usually alight on the sandy beach near the edge of the water, and stand so closely packed that 

 thirty or forty may be obtained at a single shot. They shuffle about with a constant low 

 twittering, and occasionally stretch their wings upwards to their full extent, presenting a very 

 pretty appearance. When fired at, or otherwise alarmed, the whole flock rises simultaneously 

 in the air in a vortex of confusion, crossing and recrossing each other as they continue to hover 

 over the spot, producing at the same time a perfect din with their sharp cries of ke-Jce-Tce. 



Some years ago, when exploring among the shoals and sand-banks of the great Kaipara 

 heads or basin, I observed thousands of these birds ; and in this wild and unfrequented part 

 of the coast they were so fearless that they coursed about our boat within a few feet of our 

 heads, and the discharge of a gun among them only tended to increase their apparent interest 



in us. 



This species of Tern breeds in large colonies, as many as 200 or more being sometimes 



associated together. The eggs are deposited on the bare rock, often within reach of the sea- 

 spray ; and, as a rule, there is only a single egg to each nest. They are usually of an elegant 

 ovoido-conical form, measuring 1-9 inch in length by 1-3 in breadth; and they present great 

 beauty and diversity in their colouring. The ground-tint varies from a clear greyish white to a 

 delicate greyish green, and from a pale yellowish brown to a dark cream-colour. They are 

 marked and spotted with purplish and dark brown in every variety of character : some have the 

 entire surface studded with clear rounded spots, occasionally confluent ; others have the marks 

 broad and irregular ; while in some examples they are spread into large dark blotches, covering 

 a great portion of the surface. Some specimens are freckled all over with Hght brown, and 

 splashed at intervals with darker brown; others have a smudged appearance, as though an 

 attempt had been made to obliterate the markings. In the Canterbury Museum there is a 

 curious example, having the entire surface covered with marbled veins of dark brown; and 

 another (collected by Mr. Fuller on the Waimakariri beach, and ascribed by Mr. Potts with 

 certainty to this species) is of a delicate pinkish brown tint, with a broad zone of confluent spots 

 towards the larger end, and numerous scattered specks of a rich reddish-brown colour. 



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