ARCTIC TERN. 
93 
it looks for on the muddy flats at low water, and finally, 
the worms are obtained on the meadows, or in following 
a labourer at the plough; during fine weather the fish 
are easily obtained, and in stormy weather the land pro¬ 
ductions are resorted to, as this species is not able to with¬ 
stand the wind in its flight. 
The breeding places are the sea-shores of inlets, islands, 
and the mouths of rivers, but never about inland rivers ; 
whether the ground is low or somewhat elevated, has been 
ascertained to be of no great moment. The two or three 
eggs are placed on the ground in a small hollow scratched 
for their reception, and several pairs abvays breed together, 
and most frequently near the broods of other sea-birds, 
among which we must enumerate the herring-gull. About 
the end of May, or the beginning of June, the eggs are 
produced, and after fifteen or sixteen days’ incubation, the 
young make their appearance, which are soon fledged and 
able to follow their parents in search of food. 
The measurements of the adult Arctic Tern are as follows : 
entire length fifteen inches; the beak from the forehead, 
one inch four lines; the tarsus, seven lines; the tail, seven 
inches nine lines; the wing, eleven inches. 
The summer plumage of the adult is very similar to 
that of the common tern, but sufficiently different to dis¬ 
tinguish them ; the gull-grey of the upper plumage is much 
darker, and the edges of the inner webs of the quill-feathers 
are grey instead of white; and the outer webs of the 
longest tail-feather, and of the first quill feather, are hoary 
grey, instead of nearly black, as in the common tern. The 
chin and sides of the face are white, but the throat, breast, 
and all the under parts are nearly as dark gull-grey as 
the back. The beak is more arched than in the common 
tern, and stouter, and deep scarlet without any black tip; 
