156 
STERNA MINUTA. 
249. STEBN'A MI^UTAy tlNN^US. — LESSER TERX- 
WILSON, PLATE LX. ITO. H. — EDINBURGH COLLEGE llUSEl^’*' 
_ This beautiful little species looks like the preced'*^ 
in miniature, but surpasses it far in the i-icli 
satin-like white plumage with which its throat, bre»=” 
and whole lower prts, are corereil. Like the foo#?! 
It IS also a bird of passage, but is said not to extend 
migrations to so high a northern latitude, being n>i>^ 
delicate and susceptible of cold. It arrives on the co^ 
somewhat later than the other, but in equal and perh^ 
greater numbers ; coasts along the shores, and also o' i 
the pools^ in the salt marshes, in search of prawnSi^ 
which it is particularity fond ; hovers, suspended in 
air, for a tew moments above its prey, exactly in 
manner of some of our small hawks, and dashes he»‘!! 
long down into the water after it, generally seizi'C 
with Its bill ; mounts instantly again to the same hei^Z 
and moves slowly along as before, eagerly examiur 
the surface below. About the 25th of May, or 
mng of Juno, the female begins to lay. The eo'gs'k 
dropt on the dry and warm sand, the heat of 'ivh''^/ 
_dm-iug the day, is fully sufficient for the purpose <> 
incubation. This heat is sometimes so great, that 
can scarcely bear the hand in it for a few moine'’^ 
without inconvenience. The wonder would theref**! 
be the greater, should the bird sit on her e-ws dih"'* 
the day, when her warmth is altogether unnece.s-“*'J 
and perhaps injurious, than that she should cover the’’ 
only during the. danips of night, and in wot and .stori»? 
weatlier; and furnishes .another proof that the actia®; 
Of birds are not the effect of mere blind impulse, 
of volition, regulated by reason, depending on v.aria'® 
incidental circumstances to which their parental 
«irn oirar riii ..... * l ' ^(1* 
^ visited those parts 
are ever awake. _ muae rui» 
beach on Cape May wliere this little bird breeds. , 
eggs, generally four in nnraber, were placed on the 
sands, sale beyond the reach of the highest suW®*® 
