2 LESSER TERN.
lying a wort distance up the course of the river towards the old town of Rye, (hough they generally showed a
preference fur seeking their prey along the sea-shore.
The majority of the fishermen and gunners along the coast-line ofcast Sussex give the names of Skerrils or
Skiffs to these birds; some of these men, however, know little or Dotting concerning the distinction between two
or three of the light-coloured smaller species, and speak of (hem aR as Sea-Swallows. I repeatedly remarked
that the pout and shore-shooters who gained their living in the harbours and estuaries of the west of Sussex
and parts of the adjoining county were well acquainted with most of the Waders, Hulls, and Terns, as well as
fowl, being in the habit of procuring specimens for naturalists and collectors, rarities not unfrequeully falling
into their bands.
During the latter part of August and September Lesser Terns, both adult and immature, commence (o
make a movement from our shores towanls their winter-quarters, and continue, together with those that have
winged their way across the North Sea from more northern 111 raiding at it hail, to pass along through the Channel
towards the west for some weeks. Rough and stormy weather is sure to drive large numbers, while on their
way, into the harbours, estuaries, and backwaters along the south coast, and here they remain sheltering Trout
the squalls till the gale has blown over, when their journey is resumed.
The immature birds may easily he recognized during their first autumn by the darker tints of tbo plumago
on the back, which a! once altraol attention when the juvenih s are seen in company with adulls.
BLACK TERN.
HYDROCHELIDON NIGRA.
LIKE many another denizen of the men's and swamps of the eastern counties, the Black Tern has been
driven from its former haunts, several years having now elapsed since this species reared its young
within the limits of the British Islands: at the present time these hints are only seen passing our
shores while on their way to and from their breeding-stations; small flock- Hying cast u-ually put in an
appearance in the Channel off the coasts of Sussex and Kent during the last week in April, and the
llight continues throughout May. The earliest date of their arrival on our shores recorded in my
journals is April lttb, 1878, when several were seen on Kiekling Broad in the east of Norfolk: a
light easterly breeze was blowing at the time, and the birds were all Hying directly in the face of the
wind; on the following day, with a gale and squalls of rain from the same quarter, several small parties
of ten or a dozen were still passing.
The minute insects that collect in swarms over the bniads and swampy pools in the marshes in the
cast of Norfolk prove a great attraction to this species on their first arrival in that pirt of the country.
Small parties are to be met with every season, and occasionally I have watched flocks of from fifty to
sixty liirds engaged in hawking for prey like Swifts; at times they hover over the slades and waterdykes
after the manner of a Kestrel, or flap across the flooded portions of the hills with much the same
actions as the Marsh-Owl, dipping down now and then for food. On the 2^lh of April, ISS3, with a cold
wind blowing from east-son til-east, they were especially numerous, and a great difference in the sbadi-s of
the pale grey colouring of the wings was remarked, some being so light that those who had never met
with an opportunity for observing the White-winged Black Tern in life might readily have been mistaken
as to the species. Small parties as well as single birds are often seen during the summer mouths resorting
to the Norfolk broads and remaining for several days or even weeks in the district; these stragglers
seldom exhibit perfect adull plumage, and are probably birds of the previous year and non-hrecders.
The plumage of the young in their first autumn is entirely different to that of tiie adulls; a white
brow, checks and breast dull grey, back clouded with brown, at once attract attention and proclaim their
age. So early as the Mth of July, 187!!, I noticed three adults on llickbug Broad undergoing the change
into the winter plumage, and two of them were obtained as specimens. All through September I have
met with the immature birds passing along our coasts, having observed them on two or three occasions
in the iirth of Forth and repeatedly in the channels in the muddy harbours or estuaries of Norfolk, Kent,
and Sussex. On their first arrival the juveniles are exceedingly unsuspicious of danger; and while dipping
down for small fry in the drains on Brcydon Water, near Yarmouth, I often decoyed a specimen or two
that was required by means of a threc-comcrcd cork pi. :, I while) flung up into the air. On the lure
striking the water I he birds instantly sailed to the spot, where they would remain hovering on extended pinions,
offering excellent chances for an examination of their slate of plumage through the glasses.