228 BIRDS OF CHESHIRE. 
COMMON TERN. 
STERNA FLUVIATILIS, Naumann. 
Sea Swallow. 
Brockholes says that he believes that the Common 
Tern formerly bred in Wirral.1. We have been able to 
obtain no confirmation of this supposition, and it cer- 
tainly does not nest in Cheshire at the present day. 
The bird is often seen upon the coast and in the 
estuaries, and is sometimes met with in considerable 
numbers in autumn. In spring and autumn, ‘Sea 
Swallows’ are frequently seen inland on the meres 
and reservoirs, and though seldom identified are pro- 
bably referable to this species. We have more than 
once observed them on Pickmere Mere, on one occasion 
so late as the 22nd of June. We have examined a 
Common Tern which was killed at the end of Septem- 
ber 1896, on the flooded meadows near Sale. 
ARCTIC TERN. 
STERNA MACRURA, Naumann. 
Sea Swallow. 
Both brockholes and Byerley appear to have over- 
looked the Arctic Tern; but as there are several breed- 
ing stations of this species on the North Wales coast, 
it is probably as plentiful as the Common Tern on 
our shores in autumn. Terns shot inland are seldom 
available for reference, being usually exhibited in 
1 Brockholes, op. cit. p. 16. 
