176 GULL GROUP 



a winter-visitor, it is known to breed in Ceylon, the Andamans, and 

 the north of Australia, which apparcntl)- forms the boundar}- of its 

 eastern range. To the Mediterranean it is onh^ an occasional straggler. 



One of the smallest of the white -breastcti terns, this species, 

 although very similar in colouring to the Arctic and common terns, 

 is specially characterised in the adult state b}- the relatively long and 

 slender beak, which is black with an orange patch at the base, the 

 orange-red legs, and the complcteK' white inner webs of the primary 

 wing-quills. In summer-dress the feathers of the breast assume the 

 beautiful rosy tint from which the species derives its name ; and at 

 the same season the crown of the head is black, and the back and 

 wings are pearly gre}'. With the exception that the forehead becomes 

 flecked with white, and that the rosy tint fades from the breast, the winter- 

 dress is similar to that of summer. In young birds the feathers of the 

 back are barred with black, and the lesser wing-coverts wholly black, 

 although the primaries have already acquired the characteristic white 

 inner webs. Unfortunately, the rosy tint of the breast of the adults 

 in summer-plumage disappears after death completel)' in specimens 

 exposed to the light. 



As a rule, the roseate tern laj's only a pair of eggs in the usual 

 apology for a nest ; and this affords an easy way of distinguishing 

 them from those of the common species. Occasionally, however, three, 

 and even four, eggs are found in a clutch, although the latter number 

 is probably due to a couple of females making use of the same nest. 

 Compared with those of the common tern, the eggs of the present 

 species are characterised by being slightly more elongated in shape, as 

 well as by the smaller and more sparsely distributed surface-markings, 

 and the more distinct underlying grey spots. 



Sandwich Tern ^ ^^^ Sandwich tern is the second representativ^e of 

 (Sterna cantiaea). th^ g^""^ ^^'^^'^^^ ^^'^^ ^'^^ recognised as a distinct 

 species on the evidence of English specimens, and 

 is, in truth, much better entitled to be named from this circumstance 

 than is the gull-billed tern, since it still breeds in several localities in 

 the British Islands, and in former times had other nesting-sites in the 

 kingdom. 



In addition to being the largest of the indigenous British 

 representatives of the group, measuring i6 inches in length, the 

 Sandwich tern, when adult, may be recognised by the black feet, the 

 yellow-tipped black beak, and the slight elongation of the feathers on 

 the nape of the neck. In summer the crown of the head and nape are 



