228 POPULAR SCRIPTURE ZOOLOGY.

Terns feed principally on the fry of fishes, which they are
very expert in twitching out of the shallow water. They
leave the high rocks to the gulls, petrels, and other sea-
birds, but abound on low sandy shores, frequently deposit-
ing their eggs on the bare sand, above high water-mark.
During the day, the eggs are left to be hatched by the heat
of the sun; but the birds are far from abandoning them.
They are never far off, and the instant any one approaches
they are in a state of great excitement, wheeling about in
the air, and endeavouring, both by their voice and move-
ments, to attract the attention of the visitor. “‘ Indeed, if
he walk along for some distance where the beach is favour-
able for them, he may have a guard of terns the whole way;
for one pair hand over the traveller to another, and he con-
tinues to get well scolded until he is fairly out of the do-
main of the terns*.”

There are several other species. The Black Tern (Sterna
nigra) is occasionally seen in Britain, but differs little from
the last in size and colour. The Roseate Tern (8. Dougalii)
is found only by the sea, principally on the shores of the
Baltic, rarely in Britain, and varies in plumage from 8. Hi-
rundo, by having a rosy tint on the neck and breast.

* British Cyclopedia.