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with on the sand-banks at the river-mouths in association with Gulls and other shore-birds of various 
kinds. The term “ Sea-Swallow,” as applied to this Tern, is a very appropriate one ; for on watching 
the evolutions of a flock of these birds one is forcibly reminded of a flight of Swallows coursing in the 
air. Their aerial manceuvres are truly beautiful ; and the apparent ease with which they dip into 
the water and capture their flnny prey cannot fail to interest an observer. They usually alight on the 
sandy beach near the edge of the water, and stand, always facing the wind, so closely packed that 
thirty or forty may be obtained at a single shot. They shufile about with a constant low twittering, 
and occasionally stretch their wdngs upwards to their full extent, presenting a very pretty appearance. 
When tired at, or otherwise alarmed, the whole flock rises simultaneously in the air in a vortex of 
confusion, crossing and recrossing each other as they continue to hover over the spot, producing at 
the same time a perfect din with their sharp cries of ke-ke-Tce. But if approached quietly they mount 
into the air, not confusedly but commencing at the nearest point and rising in succession, like a 
lifting net, then hover in lines that intersect each other in all directions, but without any contact, 
their black caps conspicuous, and the snowy whiteness of their plumage making them gleam in the 
sunlight like a shoal of flying-fish. When passing from one feeding-ground to another they close 
their forked tails, and perform a direct and rapid flight, often at a considerable elevation. 
Some years ago, when exploring among the shoals and sand-banks of the great Kaipara heads or 
basin, I observed thousands of these birds ; and in this wild and unfrequented part of the coast they 
were so fearless that they coursed about our boat within a few feet of our heads, and the discharge of 
a gun among them only tended to increase their apparent interest in us. 
This species of Tern breeds in large colonies, as many as 200 or more being sometimes associated 
together. My son Percy observed in December a vast crowd of them on a small rocky island near 
the Taranaki Sugar Loaves. This is a favourite breeding-ground, and the birds were so closely packed 
that from the deck of the steamer they presented the appearance of a fall of snow. On one occasion 
the crew of the ‘ Hinemoa ’ landed at this place, and collected several bucketsful of the eggs. 
On the small island of Motiti I found a large community of them occupying one end of it, and 
the Bed-billed Gull the other, the two nesting-places being as far apart as possible. On the high 
intervening ground Lams dominicanus had established a breeding-place, as already mentioned. 
On its nesting-ground being invaded this Tern shows fight in a very determined manner, coming 
in a bee-line for the intruder’s face, till within about a couple of feet, and then darting off at a sharp 
angle with a snapping cry of remonstrance. Captain Fairchild has known them even bolder, and has 
had his hat knocked off by the rapid action of their wings. By the end of February the young birds 
have joined the general community on the sand-banks, but they may be easily distinguished by the 
dark plumage of their upper surface and by their more sibilant cry. The eggs are deposited on the 
bare rock, often within reach of the sea-spray ; and, as a rule, there are two eggs to each nest. 
They are usually of an elegant ovoido-conical form, measuring 1’9 inch in length by 1-3 in breadth; 
and they present great beauty and diversity in their colouring. The ground-tint varies from a clear 
greyish white to a delicate greyish green, and from a pale yellowish brown to a dark cream-colour. 
They are marked and spotted with purplish and dark brown in every variety of character : some have 
the entire surface studded with clear rounded spots, occasionally confluent ; others have the marks 
broad and irregular ; while in some examples they are spread into large dark blotches, covering a 
great portion of the surface. Some specimens are freckled all over with light brown, and splashed 
at intervals with darker brown ; others have a smudged appearance, as though an attempt had been 
made to obliterate the markings. In the Canterbury Museum there is a curious example, having 
the entire surface covered with marbled veins of dark brown ; and another (collected by Mr. Fullei 
on the Waimakariri beach) is of a delicate pinkish-brown tint, with a broad zone of confluent spots 
towards the larger end, and numerous scattered specks of a rich reddish-brown colour. 
