SANDWICH TERN. 653 



Sterna cantiaca. — The Sandwich Tern — Is met with near Hudders- 

 field. W. Eddison says : "In the commencement of severe winters 

 it is common for us to be visited by small flocks of Gulls, Terns, and 

 other sea-fowl, driven so far inland by rough weather. Terns of 

 nearly all the British kinds have frequently been shot." 



This noble Tern, the Sea-Swallow of the east coast, is a 

 visitant on its way to and from its breeding places to the 

 northward, the nearest of which is at the Fame Islands, where 

 a large and increasing colony exists. It occurs more frequently 

 in spring than most of the other Terns, and has been noted 

 at Spurn and Flamborough, while every year, early in May, 

 a few are to be seen off Redcar and at the Teesmouth. The 

 earliest date on which I have observed it is 3rd May 1894, 

 when several passed at sea ; I also heard one on 12th June 

 1886, and an adult male was picked up on ist July 1888. 

 During the whole of the summers of 1904, 1905, and 1906 

 two pairs remained in the vicinity of Redcar, where I fre- 

 quently saw them throughout June and July, fishing near 

 the rocks opposite my house. 



In August the Sandwich Tern begins to move southward, 

 accompanied by the young birds, the main body passing on 

 without lingering, though a few remain off the coast and 

 in the estuary, small parties being reported late in September 

 and occasionally in October, the peculiarly harsh, grating 

 call at once giving notice of their approach, though the 

 birds themselves may be undiscernible, and probably a mile 

 distant. It was more numerous than usual in 1902, and 

 remained until 27th September. The latest record for the 

 Redcar district is 7th October 1881, when I saw one at the 

 Teesmouth, though a later date for the county is given in 



1875, one being obtained on 15th December, at Filey {Zool. 



1876, p. 4804). On the autumn passage this species has been 

 met with at most of the coast stations between Teesmouth 

 and Spurn, at the latter place consorting with the Arctic 

 and Common Terns. 



It is very rare inland, though it has been recorded from 

 Huddersfield (" Hobkirk," 2nd Ed. 1868); Wakefield (G. 

 Roberts, September 1868), and on loth October 1881, Mr. 



