302 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



by high tides, as sometimes happens, others will be 

 laid. 



Diagnostic characters : The size and remarkably 

 rich colouration readily distinguish the eggs of the 

 Sandwich Tern from those of allied species breeding in 

 our islands. 



Family LARID^. Genus Sterna. 



Sub-family STERNIN/E. 



ROSEATE TERN. 



Sterna dougalli, Montagu. 



Single Brooded. Laying season, latter end of May, and 

 in June. 



British breeding area: It is with some hesitation 

 that I include the Roseate Tern in the present work. 

 It is sad to relate that a bird actually first made known 

 to science from examples obtained in Scotland, and 

 described by Montagu, has become almost if not quite 

 extinct as a breeding species in our islands. It formerly 

 bred on the Scilly Islands, on Foulney and Walney 

 Islands, the Fame Islands, on the Cumbrae Isles in the 

 Firth of Clyde, and on several other islets off the Scotch 

 and Irish coasts. Pairs have been identified during 

 recent years on the Fame Islands, but no evidence of 

 their breeding is forthcoming. In the hope that this 

 beautiful bird will re-establish itself in its former haunts 

 at no remote date (r.ow that our sea birds are fortunately 

 protected by law), I devote a short chapter to its nesting 

 economy. 



Breeding habits : The Roseate Tern is (or was) one 

 of the latest of our summer migrants, not reaching its 



