SEA-SWALLOWS. 
223 
the way in which it feeds, flying generally so close 
to the water, that the under mandible just skims 
below the surface, while the upper is kept wide 
open, so that on its meeting with any floating sub- 
stance, it closes immediately upon it. It is a bird 
with little feet, long wings, and a forked tail ; hut 
its hill is so extraordinary that there is no mistaking 
it for the Sea-Swallow’s, which in other respects ? it 
closely resembles : the lower mandible is the shortest, 
and the other shuts upon it like the two blades of a 
pair of scissors. 
Terns, or Sea-Swallows, have very long and very 
pointed wings, with forked tails and short feet, in 
which they resemble Swallows ; but their mode of 
flight is very different ; not haying that darting 
rapid course, but a sort of graceful gliding motion, — 
sometimes high in the air, then falling, as if they had 
lost their balance. Though perfectly web-footed, 
they never swim, but take their food, consisting of 
small fishes or insects, by descending to the water, 
and gently touching the surface with their beaks. 
We have four species in this country, either resi- 
dents, or occasional visiters. Those which breed 
here, generally lay three or four eggs, without any 
nest, preferring a low shingly shore, on which, we 
believe, the bird sits in the usual manner ; but as it 
has been ascertained that an American species de- 
posits her eggs in a similar situation, and leaves them 
to be hatched principally by the heat of the sun, — 
the parent-bird only sitting upon them during the 
night, — it would be worth an observer’s while to 
look after our Terns, and see how far they resemble 
their American connexions. 
