310 
THE MARSH TERNS. 
The Lesser Sea Swallow, as the Little Tern is sometimes 
called, is the smallest British member of its family, being 
about ten inches long ; the wings of this species are one 
inch longer than the deeply forked tail, and, like the back, 
are a pale bluish grey, with the outer quills greyish black ; 
the head and nape are black ; the forehead, like the centre 
parts of the body, white. This pretty little species arrives 
in the beginning of May, and settles here and there along 
the sandy shores, from the coasts of England to the Orkney 
Islands. It is often met with on the eastern coast, but 
rarely on the western. Its habits are much like those of 
the Arctic and common Terns. Here is a picture of them 
drawn by Macgillivray : — 
In the elegance of its buoyant flight, as it skims over the waters, 
or shoots along on its way to or from its breeding-place, the tiny 
creature must be an object of admiration-to every lover of nature. 
You may see a pair coming up from a distance, flying at the height 
of a few yards above the waves, their long wings winnowing the air, 
and impelling them in starts, as it were, as they v/end their way in 
undulating and wavering movements. Suddenly their flight is 
arrested over a large pool left on the sands by the retiring tide ; 
with quick beats of their wings they hover stationary, or but slightly 
shifting their place, and with downward pointed bill seem intent on 
something which they perceive in the water. One drops, but not 
like a stone ; dips, but with upraised wings ; and rises with a small 
flsh in its bill. The other is similarly successful. Onward they 
proceed, now and then emitting a shrill cry, and with gentle beats of 
their wings. Far ahead is a flock engaged in picking up their prey, 
and onward they speed to join their kindred. At many miles distance 
from their breeding-places they may be met with ; and yet they 
generally do not wander very far, as they can procure an abundant 
supply of food along the sands. Sometimes they may be seen sitting 
on the smooth water, and occasionally resting on the sands. 
The Black Marsh Tern {Hydrochelidon nigrd)^ some- 
times called the Black Tern, the Blue Darr or the Car 
Swallow. 
The AYhite- winged Marsh Tern {H, leucoptera). 
The Whiskered Marsh Tern (iT. leucopareid). 
The Marsh Terns, whose generic name, Ilydroclielidon, 
means Water Swallows, differ from the others of their 
family chiefly in having the tail less forked, and in pre- 
