BLACK TERN. 
IIYDROCIIELinON NIGRA. 
Like many another denizen of the meres and swamps of the eastern counties, the Black Tern^ has been 
driven from its former haunts, several years having now elapsed since this species reared its young 
within the limits of the British Islands: at the present time these birds are only seen passing^ our 
shores while on their way to and from their breeding-stations; small flocks flying east usually put in an 
appearance in the Channel off the coasts of Sussex and Kent during the last week in April, and the 
flight continues throughout May. The earliest date of their arrival on our shores recorded in my 
journals is April 14th, 1873, when several were seen on Ilickling Broad in the east of Norfolk: a 
light easterly breeze was blowing at the time, and the birds were all flying directly in the face of the 
wind; on the following day, with a gale and squalls of rain from the same quarter, several small parties 
of ten or a dozen were still passing. 
The minute insects that collect in swarms over the broads and swampy pools in the marshes in the 
east of Norfolk prove a great attraction to this species on their first arrival in that part of the country. 
Small parties arc to be met with every season, and occasionally I have watched flocks of from fifty to 
sixty birds engaged in hawking for prey like Swifts ; at times they hover over the slades and wmter- 
dykes after the manner of a Kestrel, or flap across the flooded portions of the hills with much the same 
actions as the Marsh-Owl, dipping down now and then for food. On the 28th of April, 1883, with a cold 
wind blowing from east-south-east, they were especially numerous, and a great difference in the shades of 
the pale grey colouring of the wings was remarked, some being so light that those w'ho had never met 
with an opportunity for observing the IVhite-winged Black Tern in life might icadily ha\e been mistaken 
as to the species. Small parties as well as single birds are often seen during the summer months resorting 
to the Norfolk broads and remaining for several days or even weeks in the district; these stragglers 
seldom exhibit perfect adult plumage, and are probably birds of the previous year and non-breeders. 
The plumage of the young in their first autumn is entirely different to that of the adults; a white 
brow, cheeks and breast dull grey, back clouded with brown, at once attract attention and proclaim their 
age. So early as the 2Gth of July, 1873, I noticed three adults on Hickling Broad undergoing the change 
into the winter plumage, and two of them were obtained as specimens. All through September I have 
met with the immature birds passing along our coasts, having observed them on two or three occasions 
in the Firth of Forth and repeatedly in the channels in the muddy harbours or estuaries of Norfolk, Kent, 
and Sussex. On their first arrival the juveniles are exceedingly unsuspicious of danger ; and wdiile dipping 
down for small fry in the drains on Breydon M ater, near Yarmouth, I often decoyed a specimen or tu o 
that was required by means of a three-cornered cork (painted white) flung up into the air. On the lure 
striking the water the birds instantly sailed to the spot, where they wmuld remain hovering on extended pinions, 
offerino- excellent chances for an examination of their state of plumage through the glasses. 
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