LARID.E - THE GULLS AND TERNS — STERNA. 305 



identical with those of S. maxima. It is not mentioned by Dr. Gundlach as occurring 

 in Cuba ; yet it seems hardly possible that it should not be one of the common birds 

 of that island, since it is so abundant in Florida at all seasons of the year. Neither 

 is it included by Mr. Gosse among the birds of Jamaica. Dr. Bryant did not meet 

 with it breeding either in Florida or in the Bahamas. In the Bermudas, according 

 to Major Wedderburn, this species breeds in considerable numbers, appearing there 

 about the end of April. It is very common at Spanish Point and in Castle Harbor. 

 Its eggs were procured on Gurnet-head Rock June 17, 1848, and others were taken as 

 late as the 1st of August ; from which it was inferred that this bird rears two broods 

 in a season. It is not seen at Bermuda during the winter. 



This species is found along the Atlantic coast as far east, probably, as Maine, and 

 thence to Florida, and probably along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico to Central 

 America. A few once bred on a small island near Tennant's Harbor, St. George, Me., 

 and at the Isles of Shoals. Mr. Allen has found it breeding off Ipswich, and Dr. 

 Samuel Cabot off Beverly. In 1840 I obtained its eggs on Egg Rock, Nahant ; and 

 it still breeds in considerable colonies on Muskegat, on the Elizabeth Islands, on the 

 coasts of Connecticut and New Jersey, on islands near Cape Charles, and at other 

 points on the coast from the Chesapeake to Key West. On Long Island, N. Y., 

 Giraud mentioned it as not common. He regarded it as rare, and as being only 

 occasionally seen in company with the common hirundo. 



In Great Britain — where this was formerly regarded as being a comparatively 

 rare species — it seems to have increased in numbers, as it is found to be more abun- 

 dant than it once was. This bird was first recognized as a British species by Montagu 

 in 1813 ; and since then it has been found breeding at various stations frequented by 

 other Terns, and has been ascertained to be a regular summer visitant, though not in 

 very large numbers. It breeds on a small rocky islet near the entrance to Belfast 

 Bay, Ireland, on islands in the Firth of Solway, and on the Fame Islands, on the cast 

 coast of England. At the latter place, according to Selby, its advent as a new 

 species was noted by the lighthouse-keeper, and afterward confirmed by the writer. 

 Since then the colony has greatly increased, and has now become quite numerous ; and 

 a second colony has been formed upon another island — one of the Walmseys. Mr. 

 Selby says that the old birds may be easily recognized among hundreds of those of 

 tlic other species by their peculiar and buoyant flight, long tail, and by their note, 

 which may be expressed by the word crake, uttered in a hoarse grating key. The 

 eggs are larger than those of the Arctic Tern ; and the young differ from those of that 

 bird in their downy as well as in their feathered stage. 



The Roseate Tern is included among the birds of German}', and was found by 

 Temminck in August and September on the coast of Holland, breeding also on several 

 small islands on the coast of Picardy and Brittany. Savi includes this species among 

 the birds of Italy ; and specimens of it have been received from Madeira and from 

 the Cape of Good Hope. Mr. Gould has skins brought from the Malabar coast. 



According to Audubon, the Roseate Tern spends the breeding-season in consider- 

 able numbers along the southern shores of Florida ; where, at different times, he met 

 with flocks of thirty or more pairs breeding on small detached islands. Their full 

 number of eggs he found to be three. These differ considerably in size and marking, 

 and are of an oblong oval shape, narrowed at the smaller end, of a dull buff or clay- 

 color, sprinkled and spotted with different tints of umber and light purple. He 

 found them deposited on the bare rocks, among the roots of the grasses, and in 

 bright weather left exposed to the rays of the sun. Toward night the parent sat 

 upon her eggs. 



vol. it. — 39 



