258 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



18th of September, 1839, there being a very large flood on 

 the Henfield Level, I observed several of this species flying 

 over the water, and was much interested in watching the 

 perseverance with which they beat against a strong gale till, 

 arriving a a certain point, they would at once turn and dart 

 before the wind with immense velocity to the , furthest 

 extremity of the water, and again beat up, although the 

 wind was so strong that they sometimes appeared almost 

 stationary ; and this they did for an hour or more, when 

 I left them. On the same day a solitary bird was shot 

 on the River Ouse, at Lindfield, at least fifteen miles from 

 the sea. 



Mr. Jeffery states (p. n.) that after a heavy gale eighteen 

 of these birds were shot in Chichester Harbour on April 18th, 

 1866; one of them, which he examined, contained fourteen 

 or fifteen common shrimps. Mr. Jefiery also mentions that 

 one was shot over a small pond at Ashling, where it was 

 so intent on catching small gold-fish that it would. not be 

 driven away, and was found on examination to contain five 

 or six of them. The Common Tern formerly bred on the 

 beach from Rye Harbour to beyond Winchelsea, and a 

 few continue to do so. The nest is a mere shallow hole 

 scratched in the sand or shingle or placed among the drifted 

 sea-weed, and lined with little pieces of sea-thrift or dry 

 grass. 



