64 BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT OF GEELONG 
the dusky under parts and indistinct coronal patch of 
the larger Marsh Tern. 
The Little Tern is generally looked upon as a 
" salt-water " species. It breeds at Port Albert, and 
formerly did so in small numbers on Mud Island ; 
the eggs are laid in a slight hollow on the shingle. 
But at times in the summer these birds follow the 
course of the Barwon right up to Prince's Bridge, 
where on January 14th, 191 2, I saw one hovering 
over a small swamp, skimming the water and striking 
it time after time as it went, presumably filling its 
bill with water-insects. A few days later I noted 
four or five hawking up and down the river between 
the Barwon Bridge and the Breakwater. Mr. Riordan 
has seen them on several occasions about the Gut. 
It is improbable, however, that any breed in the 
district. 
SILVER GULL 
Bruchigavia novce-hollandice novce-hollandice 
Indisputably best known of all our sea-birds, the 
Silver Gull had yet for me in childhood all the charm 
of an unsolved problem. We used to find, I remem- 
ber, the discarded and spineless shells of some species 
of Sea-urchin on the muddy foreshore ; Seagulls' 
eggs, we were told, and quite believed it, manifold 
as were the questions that suggested themselves. A 
little later I was given a large heavily marked egg to 
console the tedious hours of a long convalescence ; I 
