556 LARID.E. 



aud Azores, aud is found during migration along the coast 

 of France and the Iberian Peninsula, occasionally straggling 

 into the Mediterranean as far as the east coast of Italy. It 

 descends the coast of Africa as far as Table Bay, and a 

 specimen has been obtained in 32" S. lat., 57" 18' E. long., 

 far to the south-east of Madagascar, on the 23rd October, 

 at the commencement of the south-east monsoon (P. Z. S. 

 1880, p. 163). In the southern hemisphere S. virgata or 

 S. vittata, two distinct, although similar aud representative 

 species, inhabit the islands of the Southern Ocean from 

 Tristan d'Acunha to Kerguelen. 



Like its congeners, the Arctic Tern breeds in colonies, 

 and the eggs are laid in mere depressions of the sand or 

 gravelly beach, among scanty herbage, or even on the bare 

 rock just above the reach of the waves. The eggs are some- 

 times three in number, but it would appear, from the obser- 

 vations of many ornithologists, that, especially in northern 

 localities, the complement is frequently only two. On the 

 average, they are slightly smaller than those of the Common 

 Tern, measuring 1-6 by 1 in.; and they are subject to rather 

 more variation in colour. A pale bluish-green ground is 

 very frequent, and a rich ochre-red with rufous-brown spots 

 is occasionally found. In defence of its nest it is very bold, 

 attacking the intruder with fury, and does not confine itself 

 to menaces. Mr. Wm. Traill states (Scot. Nat. v. p. 346) 

 that on 10th July, at North Ptonaldshay, he was struck so 

 sharply five or six times, apparently with the beak, that if 

 he had not been wearing a cloth cap the blows would have 

 been painful. Saxby says (B. of Shetland) that he has seen 

 this species attack aud fairly beat off the Great Black-backed 

 Gull and the Kaven. He and his brother once saw a Hooded 

 Crow assailed by a swarm of Arctic Terns, which drove it 

 foot by foot to the level of the water, until the wings dipped 

 and its plumage became saturated, the angry Terns only 

 ceasing their swoops when it was dead. The food and habits 

 of the Arctic hardly vary from those of the Common Tern. 

 When fishing over deep water Terns may often be seen to 

 dash down with such force as to raise a cloud of spray which 



