WHISKERED OR MARSH TERN 57 
wide weed-grown shallows about the Reedy Lake, 
starred with yellow-flowered water-plants ; of silver- 
crested reeds quivering in the sea-wind ; and of sparse 
companies of ethereal and dusky-breasted birds quest- 
ing low over the water, crying betimes sharply yet 
plaintively, and ever and anon turning their beautiful 
heads quickly down in scrutiny of what the summer 
sun may have called into life upon the surface of 
the mere. 
Late in September they come to us from the 
Western District, as I think, where Terrinallum still 
enshrines the native name for the bird, and we find 
them all along the Barwon, from Breakwater or 
even higher to the Lakes. After Easter the majority 
disappear. There is another Tern — the Fairy Tern — 
rather similar in general appearance, but the Marsh 
Tern, which is like a little sharp-winged, dark-capped 
Gull, may be distinguished easily by its very dark 
under surface. 
That these visiting flocks of Marsh Terns quite 
usually nest at one point or another about Connewarre 
is certain ; once only, however, did I light upon a 
breeding-place. On December 15th, 1901, I waded 
far in towards the centre of a swamp which then 
occupied the site of what is now part of Sparrovale 
Model Farm ; all bird-lovers and some others will 
say it had been more profitable to leave it to the 
birds, but that is another story. At all events, there 
was on that day a great crowd of Terns hovering 
over this morass, and after an hour's search my eye 
