THE SCISSORS-BILL. 



28l 



the Don, and another at the Ythan, are noted as their haunts, as are 

 the sands of Strathbeg Loch, and the sands between Burghead and 

 the mouth of the Findhorn. It is also abundant on the sea-coasts 

 of Holland and France, where it feeds on fish-spawn and small winged 

 insects. 



The Noddy {Sterna stolida), which frequents rivers and the 

 borders of lakes, especially marshes, makes its nest among the 

 reeds or bushes : this species is scattered all over the globe. The 

 Sooty Tern {Sterna fuliginosa) inhabits the bays and gulfs of the 



Fig. 102. — The Scissors-bill. 



Mediterranean, and is only an accidental visitor to the north of 

 France. The Arctic Tern {Sterna arcticd) is a native of the Arctic 

 Circle, and regularly visits the sea-coast of the north of France. 

 We may also mention the Roseate Tern {Sterna paradisea), the 

 Sandwich Tern (Sterna cautiaca), and the Tschegruna, or Caspian 

 Tern (Sterna caspica), all of which either breed upon the British coast 

 or are frequent visitors there, although they rarely reach France. 



The Scissors-Bill (Rynchops). 



The Scissors-bill have received their name from the conformation 

 of their beaks, which are flattened laterally into two laminae fitting 



