It breeds on the fea-fhore, laying its eggs among the loofe 
flones without any neft ; the number of eggs are three or four, 
of an olivaceous brown, blotched and fpotted with dulky 
is a noify reftlefs bird, particularly during the breeding feafon. 
This is a very adlive bird, and is feldom met with but on 
wing, being almoft conftantly in purfuit of food, which con- 
fifts of infe6tsand 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 j this perfecuting 
propenfity 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 fhorcs of 
Europe and America. 
