COMMON TERN.
"|i u and extended. Ou several occasions during the inonth of May, while at sen in the Channel, 1
have MM mi interrupted streams of Terns passing from west to east without intermission for twenty
minutes or half an hour, the whole space in view as far as the eye could reach being scattered over
with flocks, small parties, or single birds. It is by no means easy on such occasions to distinguish the
Common from the Arctic Tern; the Sandwich, however, the largest and most attractive of the family
that regularly pass our shores, may be recognized by the more conspicuous black cap, and the lighter
buo of the exquisite silvery grey of the back and wings. The few Black Terns that now approach
our islands while on their way to their summer-haunts are also occasionally seen, Iheir darker
colouring instantly drawing attention and proclaiming the species as the birds flap past in company
with their more brightly tinted relative. Thoso tiny travellers the Lesser Terns may be at once
recognized when fairly in view, their neat and diminutive forms and more jaunty flight rendering nil doubts
as to their identity impossible.
Under date of May 21st, 187i, I find an entry in my notes relating to the movements of Terns
along the south coast :—" Wind south, weather still and fine. Out at sea olf Brighton. Thousands of
Terns passing along the coast flying east, the course they held being rather less than a mile oil'the land.
I could only distinguish one small party of Brack and a couple of Sandwich Terns, the remainder of
Hie flocks appearing to be entirely composed of Common and Arctic : I remarked that many of
the two latter species were in immature plumage." I am unable to call to mind the state of
plumage exhibited by the Terns described as immature. The occurrence, however, was noted down at
the time the observations were made, precluding all chance of an error having arisen. In Juue and
July I have often shot Common Terns, evidently birds of the previous sea-on, still retaining the dark
markings of the first autumn ou the shoulder, as well as a few dusky patches ou the wings. Arctic
Terns also arc frequently to be seen in immature plumage resting on the rocks at the Fern Islands,
within a few hundred yards of where the adults arc engaged in their nesting-operations. Though all
particulars have now slipped my memory, I conclude the birds referred to in tbo note must have
been in the stages of those to which attention has just been drawn. I learn from my notes that this
flight of Terns eonlinued for some days after the 21st of May. The following entry occurs:—" 23th and
20th. Wind south and light, weather dull and fine. Out in the Channel both days. Numbers of
Terns still passing; I could only identify one flock of Lesser, tbo others, as far us could be ascertained,
being all Common and Arctic, mostly adult but a few immature. The crew of a fishing-boat informed
us that two or three Skuas bad been chasing the flocks of Terns; though afloat, however, the whole of
both days, I did not catch a gliiiij,!so of a singlo dark-coloured Ciull; the pirates were iu all probability
immature Long-tailed Skuas."
The age at which the Common Tern pairs and nests appears somewhat uncertain ; I am of opinion,
however, that it is not before the age of two and possibly three years. Alter the stream of early migrants
have passed along our coasts, I repeatedly met with a few of these Terns fishing along the shores of thu
Channel, exhibiting clear grey backs and apparently adult, with thu exception of a dark mark along the
shoulder of fbe wing: the black feathers ou the head were also scanty and by no means so well developed
as on the adults. As birds in this plumage were to be met with at sea round our shores all summer,
though never observed near their nesting-quarters, it was evident that this species does not jiair and breed
till the perfect adult dress is assumed.
Terns usually move towards tbo south as autumn draws to a close, and, I believe, an: seldom seen
after October. While awaiting Ducks at flight-time, however, iu tbo List wi-ek of Octolicr, 180-1, ou
the shores of the Firth of Forth near North Berwick, a small flock of birds, that I first snistook fur
(Julia, "as observed to flap slowly past the last ray of light remaining in the sky. A moment later,
COMMON TERN.
their manner of flight attracting attention, one barrel of a heavy lb-bore was discharged to ascertain the
species ; (hat more (ban one of the unknown had dropped ou the sands was clearly audible, and ou proceeding
towards the spot a couple or birds, which proved on examination to be Common Terns iu immature plumage,
wero picked up, lying dead ou the edge of a small pool of water.
In the works of some of the ornithological writers of former days rather curious appellations are bestowed
on this species. W. Thompson, in his 1 Natural History of Ireland,' published iu 1831, refers lo Ibis species
under the heading of the Common Tern ; and adds tho names of " Sea Swallows; i'irre (north or Ireland).
Skirr at Lain bay ; Kingfisher at bough Neugh."
In an edition of Hie ' History of Ibilish liirds,' by the inimitable wood-en graver T. Bewick, published at
Newcastle in 1801, I find, under the beading of the Common Tern, the names of the " Great Tern, Kirmew, or
Sea-Swallow." "William MacGiliivray, in his ' llistury of British Birds,' published in 1852, after using for his
description of this species the accustomed name of Common Tern, slates that it is also known as the " Tietarue,
Tarney, Tarret, Picket, Spurre, Seraye, Kirmew."
The description of the breeding-habits of this species given by MacGiliivray agrees with what I have
observed myself, anil is as follows :—" With us the Terns arrive in straggling tloeks in the beginning of May,
and soon after betake themselves to their breeding-places, which arc sandy tracts, gravelly or pebbly ridges on
the shore, rocky ground, or sometimes low rocks. In file latter kind of situation, they make an imperfect nest
of bits of grass or fragments of dry sea-weeds; but on sand they merely form a depression." The same author
also slates, when referring to their eggs :—" The birds usually sit upon them by day, unless ia sunny weather,
or when I hey are much ilKl orbed, and always at night, as well as when the air is moist."
T. Bewick, in the old-fashioned type used at the time at which he wrote, gives us the following informal ion
concerning the hreeding-habils of the Common fern :—" The female, it is said, forms her nest in the moss or
long coarse grass, near the lake, and lays three or four eggs of a dull olive colour, marked w ilb different-sized
black spots at the thicker end; it is added, that she covers them only during the night, or in the day when it
rains : at all other times she leaves the hatching of them to the sun.''
Thompson makes several remarks concerning this species when referring to their proceedings during tbo
spring and rearing their young on the Down coast. He appears to have been an accurate observer ; but the
assertion that Terns leave their eggs during the day for the sun lo hatch them must be an entirely mistaken
idea, as I have repeatedly watched, when unobserved, hundreds of these birds sitting oa their nests iu
1 night hot weather. '1 he follow iug lines are extracted from hi- nee-unit of this species ;—" That the birds do
not sit on the eggs during the day, or do so very rarely, is certainly the case at several islands visited by myself.
11'they did so, they would he hardh less conspicuous than 'snow upon a raven's back;' and hence instinct
may prompt them—in localities in which they arc liable to be disturbed, both for their own sake and that of
their eggs—to absent themselves from their nests iu the day-time."