65-' 



CASPIAN TERN 

 Sterna caspia {Pallas). 



Accidental visitant from the shores of Continental Europe and 

 Africa, of extremely rare occurrence. 



This handsome bird, the largest of the British Terns, 

 is an inhabitant of the Mediterranean coasts, and nests by 

 the Black and Caspian Seas, while colonies exist on the coasts 

 of Sweden and Denmark. I found it fairly plentiful in the 

 spring of 1889 on Menzaleh Lake, Upper Egypt, flying in 

 small flocks, and also feeding near the edge of the lake ; both 

 adult and immature birds of the previous year were fishing 

 in company. 



Its claim to rank as a Yorkshire species rests on the occur- 

 rence of one example at Filey, which was recorded by the 

 possessor of the specimen, in the Field (15th November 

 1879), as follows : — 



" The Caspian Tern .... was shot at Filey by a friend 

 early in September 1874, and was sent by him to Baker of 

 Cambridge, to mount for me. Although I have seen the bird 

 there, I have not yet obtained possession of it, but it was, 

 I believe, seen by Professor Newton at Baker's, so that 

 there can be no doubt as to its identity." (R. A. Wilhs, 

 Franklands, Addleston.)* 



SANDWICH TERN. 



sterna cantiaca {Gmelin). 



Bird of passage in spring and autumn. Very rare inland. 



The first mention of this bird's occurrence is in Allis's 

 Report, 1844, as follows : — 



* See Mr. J. H. Gumey's article on British examples of this Tern 

 {Zool. 1887, p. 458). 



