BLACK TERN. 
161 
in company with another. I would remark, however, that both observers may 
have been correct in seeing a white and black Tern, and yet that it need not 
follow that it was the White-winged Black Tern in either case, the immature 
Black Tern being pied, as is also the adult in winter. 
BLACK TEEN. Hydrochelidon nigra (Linnaeus). 
An occasional straggler from the coast, chiefly in spring and autumn. — 
Mr. Babington (Appendix ‘Potter,’ p. 70) wrote: — “Sometimes found at Giroby 
Pool, Cole Orton, and elsewhere.” Harley remarked: — “The Black Tern frequently 
occurs in the vicinity of our rivers and pools during the summer months.” 
Mr. Macaulay recorded (‘Mid. Nat.,’ 1882, p. 80) that “One was shot at 
Saddington Reservoir in December, 1865, by Rev. A. IMatthews, and is now 
in his collection.” A Black Tern was shot by Mr. W. A. Heap, of Melton 
Mowbray, who obligingly wrote me: — “T shot it on August 4th, 1884, as it 
was flying about a ballast-hole filled with water, about two acres in extent, 
close to Melton. It kept darting at the water as you see Swallows do, and 
every time it brought out a small fish (Stickleback or Minnow).” Mr. Edward 
Bidwell, of East Twickenham, informed me that he bought a specimen in 
Leicester, which was said to have been killed in the Abbey Meadow many 
years ago. This specimen he has since most generously presented to the 
Museum, and I purchased, also for the Museum, two adult mounted specimens 
which were shot near Belgrave, 24th April, 1886, out of a flock of over 
forty. Mr. Macaulay wrote me : — “ Two adult Black Terns on Saddington 
Reservoir, on 2nd June, 1887. Seen and identified by Rev. A. Matthews, who 
watched them for over an hour and tried to shoot them, but, though they 
came within thirty yards of him, he did not fire, as he had no boat, and 
could not have got them.” A most interesting example, an adult in change 
to winter dress — having a white forehead, face, and throat, a partially black 
head, and a grey breast thinly barred with white — was shot by Mr. R. 
Henfield on a flooded meadow at Nailstone, in September, 1888, and kindly 
presented by him to the Museum. A young bird in the plumage of imma- 
turity — i.e. with forehead, face, throat and remaining underparts pure white ; 
head and hind-neck black ; and with wing-coverts and some of the secondaries 
broadly marked with light-brown — was shot in the Abbey Meadow during the 
first week of October, 1888, and passed into the possession of Mr. F. F. How, 
of Evington Street, who obligingly allowed the Museum to acquire it. 
In Rutland. — As in Leicestershire. — I have seen a pair (adult) in the 
possession of Mr. Gr. H. Finch, M.P., who informed me that they were 
killed at Burley Ponds in April, 1886. Mr. R. Tryon reports another, also 
shot there about the same time. A fourth. Masters informed me, he shot, 
also at Burley Ponds, in August, 1888. 
M 
