43 British Birds, with their Nests and Eggs. 



the bare sands, hoping thus to elude their persecutors. But their flight was vain, 

 for the Terns followed their retreating enemy, one Tern after another in rapid 

 succession darting down to disable, if possible, their inoffensive victims, which 

 never attempted to show fight" (Macpherson). 



Hardly is the breeding season over when the old birds begin to put off their 

 nuptial dress and assume their winter plumage, which differs from the former attire 

 in having the forehead and the crown mottled with white; the inner primaries 

 black from loss of their " frosting," and the bill, legs and feet less brilliant red. 



During the autumn both old and young birds may be seen feeding together 

 during the day, and sometimes under the moonlight, in large flocks, or sitting, 

 during rough weather, on a sandy shore under the lea of a bank. In September 

 they begin to leave the northern parts of the British Isles, on their southern 

 migration, and before the middle of October all, except, perhaps, a few stragglers, 

 who are to remain all winter, have betaken themselves from our shores to less 

 sunless skies. 



Family— LARID^E. Subfamily - S TERNIN/E. 



Arctic Tern. 



Sterna macrura, Naum. 



THE Arctic Tern closely resembles the Common Tern ; so much so, indeed, 

 that for a long time the two were not recognized to be distinct species. 

 It is not only an annual visitor, large numbers passing along our coasts, bound 

 to other lands, but also a true British breeding bird. Its range within our islands 

 is more northerly than that of the Common Tern, although the two mingle and 

 nest together in one colony on the limits of their range. 



In England this Tern breeds on the Scilly Islands, and on the southern and 



