STERNA DOUGALLI 347 



Colony, its range thence exteudiiiy', by way of Madagascar, to Ceylon, 

 the Strait Settlements, eastward to the Loo-Choo Islands and Japan, 

 and southwards to Australia. 



As stated by Mr. Howard Saunders, two very important gaps in 

 the distribution of tbe speeies are to be observed, one being that 

 on the West African side, between Madeira and the Cape of Good 

 Hope, the other between the Mediterranean and the Indian Seas. 

 Knowing, however, as we do now, that this Tern is to be found 

 breeding in Tunisia, Mr. Saunders is no doubt quite justified in 

 thinking it not improbable that the line of continuity should be sought 

 eastward, along the North African coast, and southward, down the 

 Bed Sea, to tbe Indian Ocean. The birds that breed in Southern 

 Tunisia, as we know, disappear in autumn, and it seems more 

 probable, considering how oceanic the species is, that they should 

 take the eastern route along the sea-coast rather than migrate 

 inland and traverse the Great Sahara in a southerly direction, or, as 

 an alternative, go northward round Tunisia, and then westward and 

 southward. It is quite possible, and indeed not unlikely, that 

 S. dougalll may be found breeding on the coasts of Tripoli and 

 Cyrenaica, as it does in South Tunisia, but our knowledge of the ornis 

 of those districts is at present extremely limited, and we can only 

 hope that further research may shortly throw some light on this 

 interesting question. 



In its habits the Roseate Tern, according to Blanc, is far from shy, 

 and is of a pacific and yielding nature. Though breeding in the 

 vicinity of other Terns, it apparently keeps more or less apart from 

 them and even deserts its favourite quarters should these be invaded 

 by allied species. This has been proved by Dr. Bureau on the west 

 coast of France, and it seems also to have been the case on our 

 English coasts. 



The species appears to be essentially a sea-coast bird, and does 

 not occur on inland waters. It is very graceful in its movements, 

 though its flight is said to be less rapid than that of some other Terns. 

 Blanc says it has three difl'erent notes, the call-note, the pleasure- 

 note and the alarm-cry. In its food and in its mode of fishing, it does 

 not seem to differ from its allies. 



The Eoseate Tern breeds in colonies on small uninhabited islands, 

 and not far from the water's edge, but unlike most of the Terns, 

 instead of leaving its nest exposed, it endeavours to hide it as carefully 



