394 LA RIDE. 



summer-visiter, but not in very large numbers. Mr. Wm. 

 Thompson obtained specimens in summer from a small rocky 

 islet near the entrance to Belfast Bay. Mr. Heysham has 

 recorded a specimen obtained at Brugh Marsh Point, on the 

 Cumberland side of the Solway, and there is reason to believe 

 that this Tern, with others, breeds on some of the low flat 

 islands in the Solway Firth. Mr. Thomas Howitt sent me 

 notice of its occurrence in Lancashire. T. C. Eyton, Esq. 

 has recorded its capture in Shropshire. It has been hilled in 

 Cornwall and Devonshire, but does not appear so often on 

 the southern shores as on those of the west or cast coasts. 

 Mr. Selby, in his account of the birds of the Farn Islands, 

 says, " Several years ago the keeper of the outer Lighthouse 

 first noticed this as a new and distinct species. Information 

 was given me of the circumstance, and I Avent over to ascer- 

 tain the fiict, and having killed several, found them to be the 

 Sterna Dougalii, or Roseate Tern of Montagu. Since that 

 period they have greatly increased, and now form a numerous 

 colony, which occupies a large space of ground near to that 

 occupied by the Arctic Terns, and a second station upon one 

 of the Walraseys. The old birds are easily recognised amidst 

 hundreds of the other species, by their peculiar and buoyant 

 flight, long tail, and note, Avhich may be expressed by the 

 word crake, uttered in a hoarse grating key. Its eggs are 

 rather larger than those of S. arctica, and the young differ 

 both in the early or downy, and in the feathered state." 

 The eggs measure one inch nine lines and a half in length, 

 by one inch two lines and a half in breadth ; of a yellowish 

 stone colour, spotted and speckled Avith ash-grey and dark 

 brown. These birds live upon small fish. 



This Tern in summer visits Norway and the Baltic ; and 

 Richard Dann, Esq. sent me word that it breeds in Lapland. 

 It is included among the birds of Germany. M. Tcmminck 

 says it is found on the coast of Holland in August and Sep- 



