is more direct and less wavering than that of the 

 Common or the Little Tern. 



We do not often hear of the occurrence of the present 

 species at any great distance from salt water, but I have 

 a very fine pair of adult birds stuffed, that were killed 

 on the Isis in Port Meadow, close to Oxford, about 

 1853. This is the only species of Tern that I have ever 

 kept or attempted to keep in captivity ; at the present 

 moment (August 21, 1S94) I have two fine young birds 

 that I received from the north of England on June 27. 

 They refused to eat for the first few days after their 

 arrival at Lilford, and had to be forcibly crammed, but 

 they now feed greedily upon small fishes or pieces of 

 large ones ; they are remarkably tame, and very peace- 

 able with the many other species that inhabit the same 

 compartment of our aviary. The elongated feathers of 

 the occipital crest are already very noticeable in these 

 youngsters. Egg-collectors and dealers have done their 

 utmost to exterminate this beautiful bird in our country, 

 and as it does not leave our coasts till after the end of 

 close-time, it is, of course, liable to slaughter by the 

 loafers who supply " wings " for plumiferous human 

 females. 



