CHAP. XIV. 



ARCTIC TERN. 



163 



lower we brought down two little buntings and an oyster- 

 catcher ; we also took a brambling's nest and a duck's, both 

 containing eggs. That evening we saw our first Arctic 

 tern.* We spied them from a distance, and brought them 

 within range by imitating their notes. We suspected this 

 species by the ash-grey colour of the lower parts. Later in 

 the night we had the opportunity of procuring both birds 

 and eggs, and verifying our previous recognition. We had 

 pulled up at one of the islands to boil the kettle for tcliai 

 and cook some fish ; after this meal we began to explore. We 

 shot three terns, and found three nests, securing five eggs in 

 all. As I was in the act of taking up one of these nests, 

 a hare ran up, stood in mute amazement, gazing at me for 

 a second or two, and then turned and bolted. On this 

 island we shot an oyster-catcher ; it was evident the nest was 

 there, but we could not find it. 



Eain and contrary winds accompanied us all the next day ; 

 and at night we stopped at Abramoff. We got from the 

 peasants there eggs of the common gull, and some of the 

 white wagtail, and also eggs of the widgeon, the golden-eye, 

 the fieldfare, and redpole. We also saw a couple of young 

 ravens. We shot a ringed plover, a Temminck's stint, and a 

 pair of yellow-headed wagtails. We were now leaving the 

 more hilly country and the forests of pine, and were entering 



* The Arctic tern (Sterna macrura, 

 NauiD.) is a circumpolar bird, though 

 its breeding range extends into the 

 temperate regions. It is common in 

 various parts of the British Islands. 



This species frequents the rivers and 

 laljes, as well as the sea-shore. It 

 appears to winter south of the Mediter- 

 ranean, ranging as far as the Cape, and 

 the northern shores of South America. 



