THE GULL-BILLED TERN 



Spain and other parts of Southern and Western Europe, in Asia, North Africa, and 

 the shores of North America, whilst in winter it is found throughout Africa, in 

 favourable localities in Southern Asia and in South America. 



The nest consists of a small scratching in the sand, with a scanty lining of 

 bents, etc., and contains two or sometimes three eggs, in ground-colour light buff, 

 stone-colour, or pale olive, with spots and blotches of various tones of brown. 



According to " Yarrel " (4th ed. vol. iii. p. 534), " In its partiality for lagoons, 

 tidal rivers, and inland lakes of fresh or brackish water, and in its comparatively 

 short although distinctly forked tail and moderately-webbed feet, this species 

 forms a natural link between the Marsh Tern and those which frequent the 

 sea-coast." 



The food consists of various insects, including locusts, grasshoppers, and beetles, 

 often taken on the wing, and according to Col. Irby green frogs are also eaten. 



THE CASPIAN TERN. 



Sterna caspia, Pallas. 

 Plate 70. 



This large Tern is an uncommon straggler to the English coasts, mostly those 

 of the eastern and southern counties, where some twenty examples have been 

 recorded. In Europe it breeds from as far north as the Gulf of Bothnia south- 

 wards to the Mediterranean and eastwards to the Caspian Sea, also throughout a 

 great part of Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and America. The birds which 

 breed in the colder parts of their range move southwards in winter. The nest is 

 only a small depression in the sand, with a slight lining of bents or sea-weed, and 

 contains from two to three eggs, in ground-colour pale buff or greyish-brown, 

 spotted and marked with purplish-grey and brown. 



The food, consisting almost entirely of fish, is obtained by a sudden and 

 headlong plunge into the sea, after the bird has located its prey from above. The 

 cry of this species, like that of all the Terns, is harsh and strident. In winter the 

 black on the head of the bird is streaked with white. 



IV. 



57 



H 



