157 



THE COMMON TERN. 



Sterna fluviatilis, Naum. 



A single bird was observed in Argyllshire on the 22nd of 

 March and further arrivals took place in that county on the 

 8th of April. Some arrived in Kent on the 16th, and in 

 Norfolk on the 19th ; the latter passed on during the 

 following day and were replaced by others on the 22nd, 

 when the first arrival was recorded in Suffolk. In that 

 county the numbers continued to increase until the 30tb, 

 but had decreased to a few on the 3rd of May. Between 

 the 4th and 11th of May large numbers arrived in Kent and 

 commenced to nest during the following week. The first 

 records from the south-west came from the Scilly Isles 

 on the 8th of May and passing birds were observed in 

 Cheshire on the 8th and 14th, in Lancashire on the 11th, 

 16th and 25th, and in Essex on the 15th, while many were 

 reported on the coast of Norfolk on the 17th. It was clear, 

 however, that the majority of the records merely represented 

 the visits of our observers to the breeding-grounds. 



Chronological Summary of the Records. 



March 22nd, Argyll (one). 



April 8th. Argyll (slight increase), 



„ 16th. Kent. 



10th. Norfolk. 



„ 20th, Norfolk (passed on), 



„ 22nd. Norfolk (increase). Suffolk. 



„ 23rd, Suffolk (increase). 



„ 25th. Suffolk (increase). 



„ 28th to 30th. Suffolk (many). 



