Bi ae Tre SOXIIT. 
Dr. Forfter mentions a variety at Hudfon’s Bay, having the Legs 
black; Tail fhorter and lefs forked; and the outer feathers wholly 
white *: The Bird Albin has figured in his plate 88, vol. 2. appears 
alfo to be a variety; the legs are black, and the bill is of the fame 
colour, except the tip, which is red, 
Thefe Birds breed among tufts of rufhes, grafs, or mofs near the 
water fide; they lay three or four eggs, about an inch and three 
quarters in length, of a dull olive colour, marked with irregular black 
fpots, and fprinkled with fpecks of an obfcure brown in June; the 
young birds are hatched in July, and quit the neft foon after. 
‘They feed on fall fifh and water infects; are very clamorous and 
daring ; and during the time of incubation, will dart on any perfon 
who may pafs by their neft, though they fhould neither provoke nor 
difturb them, 
It appears to have all the actions over the water which the Swallow 
has on land, fkimming and defcribing vaft circuits over the furface of 
the waves when feeking its prey, diving with intrepidity the inftant it 
difcovers it, and inftantly appearing again on the wing with the fifh 
in its mouth. Notwithftanding the affinity of its actions with thofe of 
the Swallow, Pennant, in the Britith Zoology, has altered the name to 
Tern, “a name,” he obferves in a note, “ thefe birds are known by 
in the North of England; and which we fubftitute inflead of the old 
compound one of Sea-Swallew; which was given them on account of 
their forked tails.” 
eee 
* Phil. Tranf. vol. Ixil. p. gat. 
N 2 PRAT. 
