THE LITTLE TERN. 717 



Soft parts. — Bill (ad.) yellow, tip black, (juv.) brown, cutting 

 edges of upper and basal half of lower very dull yellow ; legs and 

 feet (ad.) orange, (juv.) brownish-yellow ; iris dark brown. 



Characters and allied forms. — S. a. saundersi (coasts Sind, 

 Baluchistan) has grey rump and tail, more black and white outer 

 primaries (usually 3), brownish -yellow bill and feet ; S. a. sinensis 

 (China to Australia) has shaft of outer (2nd) primary white and 

 usually longer tail ; S. a. antillarum (east coasts N. America) has 

 rump and tail grey ; 8. a. browni (west coasts N. America) has grey 

 tinge on under -parts. Small size distinguishes Little from other 

 British Terns. 



Field -characters. — Resembles last three in general habits but 

 differs in appearance by smaller size, orange -yellow feet and bill, 

 and white fore -head throughout nesting -season. Characteristic 

 cries, " skerrek," and, at nesting-place, " tiri-wiri, tiri-wiri, tiri- 

 wiri " ; alarm-note a rasping " quek." 



Breeding-habits. — Breeds in colonies, usually small, on sand or 

 fine shingle near shore. Nest. — Mere scratching in sandy ground. 

 Eggs. — 2 or 3, four rarely recorded, stone-colour ranging to bluish or 

 brownish with dark blackish -brown or deep brown spots and 

 occasional blotches, and ashy -grey shellmarks. Average of 100 eggs, 

 32.3x23.8. Max.: 36x23.6 and 33x25.6. Min. : 30x23 and 

 30.8x20.8 mm. Breeding -season. — Late May and early June. 

 Incubation. — By both sexes. Period 20-22 days (Lewis). Single 

 brooded. 



Food. — Almost entirely small fish (Ammodytes, Oasterosteus, 

 Cyprinus, etc.). 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Summer -resident (mid-April (main 

 arrival end April) to end Sept. or 1st week Oct., exceptionally later). 

 Breeding colonies of various sizes here and there south and east 

 coasts England. A few pairs Forth, increasing Tay, a few Aberdeen, 

 fair number Moray Firth, but doubtful breeder northwards on main- 

 land, but appears to breed Orkneys, though only straggler Shetlands. 

 On west side colonies from Cornwall to Solway, but does not now 

 breed northwards on mainland, though it does in Tiree, and has in 

 Barra since 1901-3, in N. Uist in 1907, possibly in Lewis in 1907, and 

 in another O. Hebrides since 1885 or 1886. Occurs inland on 

 passage (mid-April to end May and end July to end Sept.). Breeds 

 in Ireland on coasts of Leinster, Ulster, and Connaught. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Breeds on shores of south Sweden to 

 Mediterranean and coasts of N. Africa, in Canaries and Madeira. 

 Russia from Petrograd to Black and Caspian Seas, east to Persia, 

 west Siberia and south to Baluchistan and N.W. India. Migrant 

 which appears to winter in Africa (Somali coast, apparently 

 Seychelles and Aldabra) and India. Little Terns also nest in 

 tropical Africa, but seem to belong to different subspecies not yet 

 cleared up. Other subspecies inhabit east Asia from Corea to 



