302 THE BIEDS OF DEVOX. 



Little Tern. Sterna minuta, Linn. 



A casual visitor, of occasional occurrence, in summer and autumn. 



The arlults are rare and generally occur singly in summer, whilst the 

 young birds of the year are met with in small tlocks in the autumn. 

 Many breed on the Chesil Bank on the neighbouring coast of Dorset (C. JS., 

 Zool. lbb'3, p. 454 ; Ernest Salmon, Zool. 16^6, j). 3U7_). 



Dr. E. IMoore mentions t^^o shot in Plymouth Sound, where it appears to be very 

 rare. An adult occurred at Kingsbridge .September 2yih, 187') (H. N., Zool. 187<i, 

 p. 5179j. A flock of seven was noticed ou Thurlestone Sands, September lOlli, 1877, 

 and one shot from it proved a fine adult male ( E. A, S. E., MS. Xotes). One on 

 Torbay, October 1876 ((i. F. M., Zool. 187(5, p. oKU). 



ilr. Eoss had one shot on the Exe in iH'dd and saj-s " it was not very common" 

 (MS. J(jurn. vol. ii.). We obtained several immature birds on the Exe estuary, 

 October lUth, 18.54, one in October 18j5. and saw souie in September 18&2. "We also 

 observed an adult in the Bight near Exmouth in July 185.5. An adult from the Exe 

 estuary is in Jlr. liyiie's collection ; and another adult was shot at Exmouth in 

 18IX). Adults (in winter pluuiage) and young birds occurred at Exmouth at the 

 eud of August 181U after stormy weather. 



One occurred on the Taw in lS.3(i (M. A. M., Zool. 18.51, p. .5348). An adult in 

 moult August loth, 1808 (C. S., Zool. 1868, p. 1378). Two immature females on 

 Kortham iJurrows, September IcJth, 1870 (Zool. 1870, p. 2387). 



This small species of Tern is only an occasional visitor to the Xorth 

 Devon coast. We have specimens from Instow in immature plumage 

 obtained in September. Our friend, the Ilev. Marcus llickards, shot two 

 at West Appledore, and has informed us that he once observed a flock of 

 ui)wai'cis of thirty on the shore at Xortham Burrows beyond the Pebble 

 Kidge. " They How in from the sea before an impeu'ling storm, during 

 the continuance of which they crouched quietl}' on the sand, presenting a 

 very pretty and interesting appearance." We have received adult 

 examples from the Somerset coast, near Weston-super-Mare, in the spring, 

 but know of no nesting-station anywhere in that county. Off the Cornish 

 coast the Little Tern is not rare in the spring and autumn, and to the 

 Dorsetshire coast it is a regular summer visitant, breeding on the Chesil 

 Bank, at J.angton Herring, and also at Abbotsbury with the Common 

 Tern (Mansel-Pleydell, 'Birds of Dorset,' p. 10(j). Mr. Cecil Smith 

 noticed several Little Tertis flying towards the shore with fish in their 

 beaks for the purpose of feeding their young on the occasion of his visit 

 to which we have already referred. The Little Tern is extremely tame and 

 confiding at its nesting-station, and there is no prettier sight than one 

 occupied by numerous pairs of these beautiful birds. We have one 

 such before our mind's eye as we write which we once visited, contenting 

 ourselves with a short staj' in which we oidy admired, and refrained 

 from touching either bird or e'x':'. 



