THE BLACK TERN. 



569 



at present. During the migrations, the birds may pause upon the Ohio 

 River, and are almost sure to look in upon the larger reservoirs for a few 

 days, but are known elsewhere only casually and as birds of passage. 



The Terns arrive upon their breeding grounds during the first week in 

 May or even earlier, but they are not usually in haste to begin their nesting, 

 since there is danger not only of high water and destructive storms, but of 

 cold snaps as well. Nesting is at its height during the last week in June, 

 but fresh sets are often obtainable well into July. August is spent in leis- 

 urely fashion, either by loitering 

 about the more seclud- 

 ed islands of the lake, or 



Taken near 

 Sandusky 



Photo by 



the Aiitltoi'. 



ON THE POINT OF DISCOVERY. 

 the nest shown on tpie following pace lies cn the surface of the ooze a few feet in 



Front of mr. jones. 



remaining in the accustomed swamps. The return movement begins late 

 in August, and continues in a desultory fashion through September, but 

 may be accelerated by early frosts. 



The food of the Black Tern consists almost exclusively of insects. These 

 are obtained a-wing, and in securing them the bird exhibits great dexterity, — 

 now towering to a lofty height, with a single stroke against the wind, to 

 make connections with a drifting moth ; now following a bewildering zigzag 

 through the reed-tops in pursuit of the agile dragon-fly. In the fall I have 

 seen- them busily engaged over the beds of pickerel 



weed at the Licking Reser- 



