84 
LESSER TERN. 
STERNA MINUTA, 
[Plate LX. — Fig, 2.] 
Arct. Zool. M). 449. — La petite Hirondelle de meVy Buff. VIII, 337. PI. Enl. 990.— Be- 
wick, II, 183. — Ind. Orn. p. 809, No. 19; S. metopoleucosy Ib. No. 22. — Bniss, 6, p. 
206, pU 19, 2. — Temm. Man. d^Om. p. 752, — Peale’s Museuniy No. 3505, 
THIS beautiful little species looks like the preceding in mi- 
niature, but surpasses it far in the rich glossy satin-like white 
plumage with which its throat, breast and whole lower parts are 
covered. Like the former, it is also a bird of passage, but is said 
not to extend its migrations to so high a northern latitude, being 
more delicate and susceptible of cold. It arrives on our coasts 
somewhat later than the other, but in equal, and perhaps greater, 
numbers ; courses along the shores, and also over the pools in the 
salt marshes, in search of prawns, of which it is particularly fond ; 
hovers, suspended in the air, for a few moments above its prey, 
exactly in the manner of some of our small Hawks, and dashes 
headlong down into the water after it, generally seizing it with its 
bill ; mounts instantly again to the same height, and moves slowly 
along as before, eagerly examining the surface below. About the 
twenty -fifth of May, or beginning of June, the female begins to 
lay. The eggs are dropped on the dry and warm sand, the heat of 
which, during the day, is fully sufficient for the purpose of incuba- 
tion. This heat is sometimes so great, that one can scarcely bear 
the hand in it for a few moments without inconvenience. The 
wonder would therefore be the greater should the bird sit on her 
eggs during the day, when her warmth is altogether unnecessary 
and perhaps injurious, than that she should cover them only dur- 
ing the damps of night, and in wet and stormy weather ; and fur- 
