156 
STERNA MI NUT A. 
249. 
STERNA MINUTA, LINNiEUS. LESSER TERN. 
WILSON, PLATE LX. FIG. II EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
This beautiful little species looks like the preceding 
in miniature, 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 the coast 
somewhat later than the other, but in equal and perhaps 
greater numbers ; coasts 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 head- 
long 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 25th of May, or begin- 
ning of June, the female begins to lay. The eggs are 
dropt on the dry and warm sand, the heat of which, 
during the day, is fully sufficient for the purpose of 
incubation. 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 during the damps of night, and in wet and stormy 
weather; and furnishes another proof that the actions 
of birds are not the effect of mere blind impulse, but 
of volition, regulated by reason, depending on various 
incidental circumstances to which their parental cares 
are ever awake. I lately visited those parts of the 
beach on Cape May where this little bird breeds. The 
eggs, generally four in number, were placed on the flat 
sands, safe beyond the reach of the highest summer 
