COMMON TERN. 
3 
their manner of flight attracting attention, one barrel of a lieavy 10-borc was discharged to ascertain the 
species ; that more than one of the unknown had dropped on the sands was clearly audible, and on proceeding 
towards the spot a couple of birds, which proved on examination to be Common Terns in immature plumage, 
were picked up, lying dead on the edge of a small pool of water. 
In the works of some of the ornithological writers of former days rather curious appellations arc bestowed 
on this species. 'W. Thompson, in his ‘ Natural History of Ireland,’ published in 1851, refers to this species 
under the heading of the Common Tern ; and adds the names of “Sea Swallows; Pirre (north of Ireland), 
Skirr at Lambay; Kingfisher at Lough Neagh.” 
In an edition of the ‘ History of British Birds,’ by the inimitable wood-engraver T. Bewick, published at 
Newcastle in 1801, I find, under the heading of the Common Tern, the names of the “ Great Tern, Kirmew, or 
Sea-Swallow.” IVilliam MacGillivray, in his ‘ History of British Birds,’ published in 1852, after using for his 
description of this species the accustomed name of Common Tern, states that it is also known as the “ Pictarne, 
Tarney, Tarret, Picket, Spurre, Scrayc, Kirmew.” 
The description of the hreeding-hahits of this species given by MacGillivray agrees with what I have 
observed myself, and is as follows : — “ IVith us the Terns arrive in straggling flocks in the beginning of May, 
and soon after betake themselves to their breeding-places, which arc sandy tracts, gravelly or pel)bly ridges on 
the shore, rocky ground, or sometimes low rocks. In the latter kind of situation, they make an imperfect nest 
of bits of grass or fragments of dry sea-weeds ; but on sand they merely form a depression.” The same author 
also states, when referring to their eggs : — “ The birds usually sit upon them l)y day, unless in sunny weather, 
or when they arc much disturbed, and always at niglit, as well as when the air is moist.” 
T. Bewick, in the old-fashioned type used at the time at which he wrote, gives us the following information 
concerning the breeding-habits of tlsc Common Tern : — “ The female, it is said, forms her nest in tlie moss or 
long coarse grass, near tlie lake, and lays three or four eggs of a dull olive colour, marked with different-sized 
black spots at the thicker end; it is added, that she covers them only during the night, or in the day when it 
rains : at all other times she leaves the hatching of them to the sun.” 
Thompson makes several remarks concerning this species Avhen referring to their proceedings during the 
spring and rearing their young on the Down coast. He appears to have been an accurate observer ; but the 
assertion that Terns leave their eggs during the day for the sun to hatch them must be an entirely mistaken 
idea, as I have repeatedly watched, when unobserved, hundreds of these birds sitting on their nests in 
bright hot weather. The following lines are extracted from his account of this species : — “ That the birds do 
not sit on the eggs during the day, or do so very rarely, is certainly the case at several islands visited by myself. 
If they did so, they would be hardly less conspicuous than ‘ snow upon a raven’s back ; ’ and hence instinct 
may prompt them — in localities in Avhich they are liable to bo disturbed, both for their OAvn sake and that of 
their eggs — to absent themseHcs from tlieir nests in the day-time.” 
