BRITISH BIRDS 



among the marshes of Central and Southern Europe, and in Asia ranges as far east 

 as China and south to Turkestan. In the winter season it migrates to Africa, 

 Southern Asia, and as far south as Australia and New Zealand. Like the Black 

 Tern, the present species breeds in colonies, the nest and eggs resembling those of 

 its congener, nor does it differ much in food or habits, though the late Lord Lilford 

 considered that its flight is somewhat less wavering and indirect than that of the 

 Black Tern. 



THE WHISKERED TERN. 



Hydrochelidon hybrida (Pallas). 

 Plate 70. 



This southern species is a very rare visitant to England, where about a dozen 

 have occurred at different times, while one has been recorded in Scotland and one in 

 Ireland. It breeds in the marshes of Spain and in suitable localities in Central, 

 Southern, and South-eastern Europe, also in North Africa and in many parts of 

 Asia, including India. It migrates in winter as far as South Africa, when it also 

 visits Southern Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Australia. 



The nest, generally consisting of a heap of water-plants collected on the surface 

 of the lake, contains three eggs, varying in ground-colour, but generally of a delicate 

 green, blotched and spotted with blackish-brown. The present species does not 

 differ from the Black Tern in habits, but, according to Lord Lilford, its note is 

 " somewhat harsher and more prolonged than that of the other." 



The three different species of Marsh-Tern have the webbing of the toes much 

 more indented than in our other Terns. 



THE GULL-BILLED TERN. 



Sterna Anglica (Montagu). 

 Plate 70. 



The Gull-billed Tern, a rare visitant to Great Britain, where some twenty-five 

 examples have been recorded, was first described by Col. Montagu in the Supple- 

 ment to his Ornithological Dictionary in 18 13 from birds obtained in Sussex and 

 Kent. It breeds in small numbers on the Danish coasts and islands, and also in 



56 



