TERNS. 8 3 
     
    
   
   
    
     an intruder approaches, in one dense cloud, like 
     
     a flight of air-borne arrows, they sweep towards 
     
     him with piercing shrieks that plead for his 
     
     departure. 
     
    

    
     When their young are fledged, they delight to 
     
     rest in a great white flock in the calm water by 
     
     the edge of a reef. Many heads are tucked 
     
     under the snowy wings, in perfect composure. 
     
     Not a plume stirs, save that the sportive sea 
     
     breeze ruffles a downy feather now and then. 
     
     But a winged brother arrives from an excursion 
     
     to sea, instantly every graceful pinion is raised 
     
     aloft to welcome him, and then they settle down 
     
     quietly again to their repose on the dappled 
     
     breast of the blue. 
     
    

    
     Our two species of Terms are the Wilson’s, or 
     
     Common Tern, and the Arctic Term. The first 
     
     is marked by a black cap on its head. The 
     
     Arctic Tern is a smaller bird, but has a longer 
     
    
   
   
    
     forked tail, and is the least common of the two 
     
    
   
   
    
     MW 
     
     PETRELS. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Leach’s Petrel and Wilson’s Petrel are both 
     
     dark-colored little birds, about eight inches long.