COMMON TERN— LITTLE TERN. 
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252. Sterna fluviatilis. Common Tern. 
Sea-Swallow. 
A spring and autumn visitor to all our coasts, much 
commoner than the last, and frequently occurring inland. 
It rarely nests in the county, but more commonly in 
those adjoining, and hence may often be seen on our 
coasts during the summer. Mr. Hart informs us that in 
1902 he saw eggs of this species that were laid in the 
neighbourhood of Christchurch. 
There is a specimen in the Alton Museum, obtained at 
King's Pond, on October loth, 1857, and another from 
Hartley. 
Captain Reid met with the species at Fleet Pond in 
1877, and specimens have been recorded from Wolmer 
and Itchen Stoke. An example has also been obtained 
at Whitchurch. 
In the Isle of Wight, according to More, it is usually 
seen in the autumn. In October, 1858, for instance, a 
large flock remained at Spithead for some days. Mr. 
Poole, also, considers the autumn its usual season, but 
Dr. Cowper has noted it as a summer visitor. 
It does not, however, breed in the Island. 
253. Sterna minuta. Little Tern. 
A spring and autumn visitor to our coasts, rarely 
occurring inland. 
Since this bird now nests within a short distance of 
our eastern border, as well as in the adjoining county 
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