268 Mr. W. Eagle Clarke on Birds 



where small beetles were very numerous at the time. The 

 presence of these insects induced, no doubt, these birds to 

 tarry on the island in such numbers. 



Le Conquet. Common on the muds. 



Alderney. Not an abundant species. 



7Q. Sterna macrura. 



Ushant. Terns were abundant off the island during our 

 visit ; but it was not until the 14th of September that Ave 

 identified Sterna macrura. On that day we watched a 

 number of Arctic Terns as they rested on a rock just off the 

 south coast of the island. Among these we detected no fewer 

 than ten individuals in that stage of adolescent plumage 

 which led Mr. Ridgway to describe this bird as a distinct 

 species under the name of Stei'na portlandica. There was 

 no doubt as to their identity, for, as if to oblige us, some of 

 them continually left the rock to alight on the shore just at 

 our feet. We may, I think, fairly assume from this that 

 there were many more of these interesting birds around 

 Ushant and the neighbouring islands. 



77 . Sterna fluviatilis. 



Ushant. Very common. Many old birds were still observed 

 engaged in feeding their young, while the latter rested on the 

 rocks off the coast — a fact which indicates that there is a 

 breeding-station of this species near at hand, perhaps on the 

 Isle of Balance, north of Molene, where we were informed 

 that the " Hirondelle de mer '^ bred in some numbers. 



78. Sterna minuta. 



Ushant. The Little Tern was observed off Molene on the 

 9th of September, and was not uncommon off Ushant during 

 our visit. 



79. Sterna cantiaca. 



Ushant. Not uncommon throughout our stay, and also 

 observed off Molene. 



Le Conquet. A few Sandwich Terns were seen off the coast 

 on the 8th and 9th of September. 



