78 
S TERNID/E. 
These birds being very sociable towards their own species, 
journey in great numbers, and reside also in large flocks; 
their migratory journeys being performed during the night, 
the flocks are not observed until they have arrived, either 
for recruiting themselves, or for taking up their quarters. 
The locality preferred by the Sandwich Tern is chiefly the 
shallow sandy sea-shore, where the water is clear; this bird 
is also frequently found on low ground, where short grass 
grows, provided there is a good supply of small fish near its 
edge, and even a rocky coast harbours this species under 
similar circumstances. The Sandwich Tern is observed to be 
particularly fond of settling on sunken rocks where the waves 
run high, and the surf is heavy : this being a peculiar fancy 
belonging to this species, it is sometimes called by the name 
of Surf Tern. 
During the night, the Sandwich Tern roosts on the 
ground, close to the water, and in places where these 
birds abound, it has been observed that the congregation 
for this purpose does not commence before the sun is 
set, when the party continue their chattering till midnight, 
and recommence the same at daybreak, when they employ 
themselves in pluming till the sun has fairly risen, after which 
they go in search of food, roving to the distance of more 
than a dozen miles. 
The greater part of the day is past in search of food by 
this Tern, and consequently it is continually on the wing, like 
our swallows and martins; its powers of flight are very great, 
and its evolutions exceedingly beautiful to behold, it flies and 
skims generally in mid-air, unless it lowers itself to come 
Avithin reach of its prey, or mounts high in the air when 
intending to fly to a distance. 
This bird is very shy, and consequently difficult to ap¬ 
proach within gunshot, except during the breeding-season, 
