THE CASPIAN TERN. 563 



breed in the Danish Islands, and to migrate southwards 

 in autumn. 



The Hebrew word saJach, already alluded to under 

 Cormorant, is supposed by Colonel C. Hamilton Smith 

 to be descriptive of this bird more than of any other 

 common in the East. "The Caspian Tern," he says, 

 "is not only abundant for several months in the year 

 on the coast of Palestine, but frequents the lakes and 

 pools far inland ; flying across the deserts to the Eu- 

 plirates, and to the Persian and Eed Seas, and frequenting 

 the Mle. It flies with immense velocity, darting along 

 the surface of the sea to snap at mollusks, or small fishes, 

 or wheeling through the air in pursuit of insects : and in 

 calm weather, after rising to a great height, it drops per- 

 pendicularly down to near the surface of the water, but 

 never alights except on land, and it is at all times dis- 

 posed to utter a kind of laughing scream. This Tern 

 nestles in high cliffs, sometimes at a considerable distance 

 from the sea. It is the largest of the Tern genus, being 

 about the weight of a Pigeon, and nearly two feet in 

 length." 



The Caspian Tern is of rare occurrence in Great Britain. 

 The specimens which have been obtained were shot on 

 the eastern coast, mostly in the counties of Norfolk and 

 Sufiblk. 



THE SANDWICH TEEN. 



STERNA BOTSII. 



Bill long, black, the tip yellowish ; tarsus short (one inch) ; tail long ; head and 

 crest as in the last ; nape, upper part of the back, and all the lower parts 

 brilliant white, tinged on the breast with rose ; back and wings pale ash-grey ; 

 quills deeper grey ; tail white ; feet black, yellowish beneath. Yoking birds — 

 Head mottled with black and white ; back, wing-coverts, and tail-feathers 

 varied with irregular lines of black ; bill and feet dark brown. Length 

 eighteen inches. Eggs greyish green, blotched with brown and black. 



The Sandwich Tern, which takes its name from the place 



Avhere it was first seen in England, is not uncommon on 



o 2 



