W H I T E - W I N G E D BLACK TERN.
HYDROCHELIDON LEUCOPTERA.
UNLESS this handsome IVrn escaped notice in former days, the numbers thai puss along our shores have greatly
increased of late years, f met. with several small partus during the spring in 1ST! and IS":!; others also that
hud Dome under the observation uf those well acquainted with all our ISritish species were reported on various
parts of the coast.
A few abridged extracts from my notes for 1471., 1^7^, and 147:1 will imparl all the knowledge concerning
the habits of these birds that I am enabled to give. In 1871 these Terns were seen on llreydon niudllals, and
a couple of years later on llickling Broad.
" .May 2o, 1871. After a heavy thunderstorm over the town (Yarmouth) during the night, the morning
broke exceedingly dull and overcast, rain falling heavily. There was just sutlicient light on reaching the
• lumps' in the guiming-puut lo make out live Terns pitching in the channel above us; though the birds did
not approach wil bin range, a closer view which w as obtained of one of their number led to the belief that the
whole were White-winged Black Terns. As the daylight increased they worked further up the lints, and dually
four settled between two brightly pluiuagcd (li'ey Hovers sitting about six feet apart at the side of ' Bessie's
drain.' From the sudden manner in which the birds wheeled found and alighted, it is probable they were
attracted by the conspicuous colouring of the I'loi ITS, their black breasts with I he edging of while corresponding
almost precisely with their own appearance. Though one remained hovering overhead, the four happened
to have settled so conveniently at the moment we came within range, setting slowly up the drain with the
Hood-tide, that, the chance was not to be lost, and the whole party were secured by a charge of .small shot front
the big gnu. The remaining bird circled round fur a time at a great height, evidently reluctant to leave its
companions, hut eventually darted off towards the north-east, where a lloel, if Waders, disturbed by the sbol,
were wheeling over Ihe Mats. The specimens secured proved to he two males and two females, in the finest
summer plumage. Possibly the slornis of the previous night may have curried these birds out of their Usual
course, though it is highly probable thai si rigglers i isil our shores more frequently than is supposed. ' >ue was
seen two days previously th ing, in company with a small parly of Common Tern-, across the Mats; though the
decoys (which seldom prove of use in spring) were Hung up, they continued on their course, passing away
lowards the north-east. When lirst observed, these Terns were plunging down headlong in the channel,
apparently in pursuit of prey, though owing to the imperfect light it was almost impossible for them to have
discerned any small tish. ISlnek Terns in spring frequently, while on King, lake an bisect from the water, but
1 do not remember tu have watched them darting down and seeking food below the surface; this action
repeatedly performed lirst atlracted notice and led to their Identification."
In the spring of 1*7:1 I was in the south of England, and though almost daily at sea did not meet with the
species; a pair were, however, seen on Breydon by oue of the gunners who had been present when the