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THE BLACK TERN. 
Sterna nigra. 
PLATE XXII. 
Sterna nigra, .Linn , — Viralva ngira, Leach, Steph — Hirondelle 
de mer noir ou epouventail, Temm . — Black Tern or Sea 
Swallow of British auiJiors. 
The Black Tern, as will be seen from the synonims, 
has been considered by some worthy of a sub-generic 
rank, the differences in form, are, however, not very 
marked, and here we think it unnecessary to sepa- 
rate them. Its habits, during incubation at least, 
are, however, different, being an inland breeding 
bird, frequenting lakes and extensive marshes, and 
during that time being in a great measure insecti- 
vorous. In Scotland we are not aware of specimens 
being obtained, and no breeding station exists ; in 
England it resorts principally the fenny districts of 
Norfolk, Lincoln, and Cambridgeshire, besides other 
less noted situations ; but some of these are dis- 
appearing, and one in Norfolk, where, twenty years 
since, hundreds of nests might be found, has been 
broken up for some time. * In Ireland it breeds at 
a small lake at Roxburgh, near Middleton, Cork.t 
* Yarrell. + Ditto. 
