It breeds on the fea-fliore, laying its eggs among the loofc 

 ftones without any neft ; the number of eggs are three or four, 

 of an " olivaceous brown, blotched and fpotted with duflcy 

 is a noify reftlefs bird, particularly during the breeding feafon. 



This is a very aftive bird, and is feidom met with but on - 

 wing, being almoft conftantly in purfuit of food, which con- 

 fifts of infe6ls and fmall fifh ; on perceiving the latter it plunges 

 with unerring -aim into the water, from whence it inftantly 

 returns with its prey, and is not known either to fwim or 

 dive : it alfo purfues the fmaller fpecies of gulls, thefe, in 

 endeavouring to efcape, frequently difgorge their food, which 

 the Tern catches before it reaches the water ; this perfecuting 

 pyopenfity has occafioned its provincial name of Gull-Teafer ; 

 its other provincial names are Sea-Swallow and Black-Head, 



The fpecies is difperfed over all the northern ftiores of 

 Europe and America. 



