COMMON TERN. 151 



with blackish spots towards the occiput ; the long fea- 

 thers of which are brownish-black, finely edged and 

 tipped with whitish : the upper parts of the body are 

 of a dull ashy-blue, with all the feathers edged and 

 tipped with whitish, and irregularly spotted with 

 clear brown : the under parts are dull dirty white : 

 the tail-feathers are ash-coloured, tipped with whitish : 

 the base of the beak is dull orange ; the irides are 

 dusky brown ; the legs orange. 



Inhabits the sea-coasts, and collections of water 

 in their vicinity,, and is a very common species in all 

 parts of Europe, and also of North America : it is 

 common on those of Britain. About June it lays 

 two or three eggs of an ashy-brown colour, marked 

 with numerous irregular spots of blackish and ash- 

 colour : the young are hatched in July, and fly in 

 about six weeks. It is a bold bird, and during the 

 period of incubation will attack any person approach- 

 ing too near its nest. It is often called the Sea 

 Swallow, as it is continually on the wing, and is, 

 moreover, very active in pursuit of its prey. 



