650 STERNA DOUGALLII. 



" it is easily to be distinguished, -when on wing, from all the 

 other species, its flight being peculiarly buoyant and sus- 

 tained by a slower stroke of the pinions. The length of the 

 tail is also characteristic, and its cry is different in expression, 

 resembling the word crake, in a key not unlike that of the 

 Land Crake. It breeds on the outskirts of the station occu- 

 pied by the Arctic Tern (the prevailing species therej ; and 

 its eggs much resemble those of that bird, but are a little 

 larger, and with the ground-colour usually more inclining 

 to cream white or pale wood-brown." Mr. Yarrell men- 

 tions its occurrence in Cornwall, Devonshire, Shropshire, 

 Lancashire, and Cumberland. I have not met with it any- 

 where, and, therefore, can only further state that, according to 

 the account given, it feeds upon small fishes, and in its habits 

 resembles the other allied species. Its distribution is said to 

 extend from Lapland and Norway, Germany, and France, to 

 Italy, Madeira, the Cape of Good Hope, and India. Mr. 

 Audubon found it breeding abundantly, in company with the 

 Sandwich Tern, on several of Florida Keys, but never met 

 with it on any part of the eastern coast of the United States, 

 or farther northward. 



" The Roseate Tern," he says, " is at all times a noisy, 

 restless bird, and on approaching its breeding-place it in- 

 cessantly emits its sharp, shrill cries, resembling the syllable 

 crak. Its flight is unsteady and flickering, like that of the 

 Arctic or Lesser Terns, but rather more buoyant and grace- 

 ful. They would dash at us and be off again with astonish- 

 ing quickness, making great use of their tail on such occa- 

 sions. While in search of prey, they carry the bill in the 

 manner of the Common Tern — that is, perpendicularly down- 

 ward, plunge like a shot, with wings nearly closed, so as to 

 immerse part of the body, and immediately reascend. They 

 Avere seen dipping in this manner eight or ten times in suc- 

 cession, and each time generally secured a small fish. They 

 usually kept in parties of from ten to twenty, followed the 

 shores of the sand-bars and keys, moving backwards and for- 

 Avards much in the manner of the Lesser Tern, and wherever 

 a shoal of small fish was found, there they Avould hover and 

 dash headlong at them for several minutes at a time." 



