no 
STERNID^. 
fers apparently salt-water lakes and swamps to the sea-coast, 
but it will for some time to come be a difficult matter to say 
more on the subject with a good conscience. We venture 
to presume that until Central Africa has become more accessi¬ 
ble to naturalists, we must patiently await further researches. 
On the continent of Europe the present species is called 
the Laughing Tern, in consequence of its call-note, that re¬ 
sembles the words Aa, ha, ha I which it frequently utters on 
being flushed, and while, escaping from an unsuccessful shot, it 
mounts high in the air. An indifferent sportsman may take 
this note of exultation as he thinks proper. 
The food of the Gull-billed Tern consists chiefly of winged 
and aquatic insects, frogs and their spawn, and also of small 
fishes, Avhich it takes by skimming over the water and swamps; 
and during bad weather it hovers over meadows in search of 
worms. During the breeding-season it robs the nests of other- 
birds, by consuming their eggs and nestlings. 
The Gull-billed Tern makes its nest on the ground, either 
on meadows or on some sandy spot, by scratching a small 
hollow on the surface, and lining it with some few dry roots and 
stalks of grasses ; but without apparently taking the pains to 
form a nest. 
The eggs are two or three in number, measuring about one 
inch eleven lines in length, by one inch four lines in width ; 
their ground colour is said to be a pale olive green, approach¬ 
ing to yellow, the spots consist of pale ash grey markings of 
divers shapes and sizes, and of reddish and olive brown patches, 
streaks, and dots. These eggs differ considerably from one 
another, as well in regard to the depth of the ground colour 
as in their markings. 
During the day these birds rarely sit on their eggs, and 
unless a person goes in search of them in cold or rainy wea¬ 
ther, it is consequently a difficult matter to find them. 
