34 Wild Birds and their Haunts 



this species is on the sides of the Pinnacles, where their 

 nests are to be found on every available ledge. The eggs 

 are obtained by means of a small net fixed at the end of 

 a long pole. The kittiwake may be distinguished from 

 any European gull by the absence of a hind toe. Plum- 

 age of the mature birds : Head, neck, tail, and under 

 parts white, mantle grey, wings (flight feathers) with a 

 good deal of black, legs and feet black. The kittiwake 

 has a peculiar cry which resembles very closely its name. 



The Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii). — First discovered 

 as a British bird by Dr. M. Dougall, of Glasgow, who 

 found it in the Firth of Clyde. Harting says (page 292 

 of " Handbook of British Birds") : " Unlike the common 

 and Arctic terns, the bill of this species, when adult, is 

 black, with the gape orange, and the legs and feet orange 

 red." One or two pairs of this beautiful and rare tern 

 breed on the Fames (the only locality in Britain where it 

 now nests). 



Sandwich Tern (Sterna cantiaca). — First discovered as 

 a British species at Sandwich, in Kent, a summer migrant. 

 Harting says (page 293, " Handbook of British Birds ") : 

 ' ' At once distinguishable amongst other terns on the 

 same breeding ground by its superior size, fuller wings, the 

 expanse of which is 2ft gin., black bill with yellow tip, 

 and black legs and feet." Nests on the Wide Opens. 

 This bird has a peculiar harsh, grating cry, which can be 

 heard at a considerable distance. A large colony nests on 

 the Knoxes. The eggs of this species are two or three 

 in number, and are subject to considerable variation. The 

 numbers of this species nesting on the Fames show a con- 

 siderable inciease. 



The Arctic Tern (Sterna hirundo). — Breeds in company 

 with the common tern on the I,ongstone, one of the Fame 

 Islands. According to Mr. J. E. Harting's valuable 

 " Handbook of British Birds," page 290, " when near 

 enough to be clearly distinguished, it may be known from 

 the common tern by its shorter bill, which is wholly red, 

 i.e., without a black tip, and by its longer outer tail 

 feathers, as indicated by the specific name macrura." On 

 closer examination it will be found to have shorter legs 



