252 
N ATATORES. 
dawns, when it betakes itself to the beach or some 
sand-bar to rest. 
There are perhaps few of our readers who have 
part of our extensive 
sea-coast during Sum- 
mer, who can fail to 
notice two birds ; 
these are the Com- 
mon Tern and the 
Least Tern. They 
are so abundant, and 
their beautiful mo- 
tions so attractive, 
that the most unob- 
servant must pause 
to watch and admire 
them. They differ 
from each other prin- 
cipally in size, the 
former being much 
the larger. Their 
plumage is quite similar, being mostly of a snowy- 
white, tinged on the back with light blue-grey, while 
a patch of black covers the crown of the head. 
Swallow-like in their form, they seem to mimic in 
their motions the antic gambols of that gay and nim- 
ble little bird, — skimming with sylph-like ease over 
the white-capped breakers, watching intently for their 
prey, upon which they dart almost with the swiftness 
of thought. The Least Tern is particularly social, 
and seeming to possess a degree of confidence in man, 
the opportunity of visiting any 
Arctic Tern. 
