STERNA HIRUNDO : WILSON's TERN. 36/ 



the " frying-pan and the fire " that can be found in 

 nature. 



" The descent of a Tern upon its victim is performed 

 with inimitable ease and grace. The bird frequently 

 disappears entirely beneath the surface, and occasionally 

 even swims a short distance under water before reap- 

 pearing. The flight of the Roseate Tern is especially 

 dashing and beautiful, with the long cleft tail streaming 

 out behind, or inclining, rudder-like, to either side, 

 as the bird suddenly changes its course. I have seen 

 the Wilson's Tern picking up floating garbage from the 

 surface in the manner of a Gull, but the food is ordinarily 

 small fishes, which are taken alive. 



" In clear calm weather in September, few Terns will 

 be seen along shore. They probably wander farther out 

 to sea at such times, or congregate upon the sand-bars to 

 rest and plume themselves. The cleanliness of these 

 birds is remarkable. Not only is the plumage invariably 

 spotless, but I have on more than one occasion seen 

 a wounded one, which had been taken into the boat, 

 begin to arrange its disordered feathers ; and its feeble 

 efforts to remove the blood-stains from its fresh wounds 

 were truly touching. 



"When the wind blows hard the Terns spend much of 

 their time on the wing, and then display great restless- 

 ness and activity. They seem to exult with the 

 freshening breeze, like ships that have been becalmed. 

 At such times I have seen them play for many minutes 

 with a fish which one of their number had captured. 

 The holder would drop it, evidently by design, and 

 the whole troop go sweeping down in pursuit. The 

 foremost was sure to seize it before it reached the 

 water, when it was taken up into the air and again 



