i66 Mr. Edward Bidwell 



shown by its fellows as they dash down to their wounded 

 companion, screaming piteously the while, is enough to make- 

 the most ardent sportsman regret the success of his shot. 

 " Have they no feelings, or does man pretend. 

 That he alone can make and mourn a friend." 

 In years gone by the Sandwich Tern (Sterna cantiaca,. 

 GmelinJ nested at the mouth of the Thames, and it takes its 

 name from having been first recognised as a species by Dr^ 

 Boys, of Sandwich, in Kent, but the destruction of its old 

 breeding haunts at Yantlet, have deprived the Londoner of any 

 chance of seeing one of the most beautiful sights in the bird 

 world, without a long run to the north. Though breeding on 

 some of the same Isles as the two common species, the Sand- 

 wich Terns always form a colony by themselves. Their two 

 beautiful eggs are deposited generally without any nest on the 

 fine shingle, the similarity of their markings and colouration to 

 the surrounding objects being their greatest protection. These 

 birds are particularly jealous of interference, and if disturbed 

 whilst breeding will frequently change their locality, sometimes 

 deserting a spot for several seasons, on account of having had 

 their eggs taken. 



By far the most exquisite of the birds mentioned this evening 

 — if not of all our British Birds — is the Roseate Tern (Sterna 

 dougallii, Montagu), so called on account of the lovely pink 

 tinge with which its breast is suffused. Still, in spite of perse- 

 cution, it is found again and again endeavouring to maintain 

 its place in its old haunts. In the summer of 1881 three mag- 

 nificent specimens of this bird were shot here, its extremely 

 long and elegant tail feathers helping to prove its identity when 

 on the wing. 



The Common (Sterna Jluviatilis, Naumann) and the Arctic 

 Tern (Sterna hirtindo, LinncEtis), are in about the same 

 proportion. Frequently flying together, and with their nest in 

 the same situation, it is hard to procure well authenticated 

 eggs of these two species, although they are in such num- 

 bers — the only plan being to find out a small colony, and 

 carefully watch the birds with a field glass from some hiding 

 place. 



Of the three species of Gull met with, the Lesser Black 

 backed {Lams fiiscus) is by far the most numerous. In spite 

 of its eggs being taken by the bushel for domestic purposes, 

 and the quantity of young birds destroyed by the ruthless 

 shooters — I cannot call them sportsmen — who yearly make 

 pleasure parties for the sole aim and purpose of committing 

 the indescriminate slaughter of any birds that may come 

 within range — these Gulls still keep up their numbers. Their 

 nests are placed quite thickly on some of the Islets. 



