Their Eggs and Nests. 185 



sufficiently striking, without taking into account that 

 the one group has immense power of flight, and 

 exercises it; and the others seem to have little in- 

 clination to use their wings at all more than is 

 absolutely necessary. The handsome and large Tern 

 specially under notice does not breed in this country 

 but is known to inhabit the coast of some parts of the 

 European continent, at no great distance from our own 

 shores. 



SANDWICH T^-^-^— {Sterna Canfiaca). 

 This bird has been noticed as breed in fj in several 

 different localities on our southern coasts, and it is 

 known to frequent both Coquet Island and one or 

 more of the Fame Islands for the same purpose ; as 

 also several parts of Scotland. It lays three or four 

 eggs in a hole, or rather cavity, either scratched or 

 found ready-made in the neighbourhood of plants or 

 herbage sufficient to afford some covert. The colour 

 of the eggs varies from yellowish white to a buffy 

 stone-colour, and they are thickly spotted with neutral 

 tint, chestnut, and deep rich brown. There is, indeed, 

 considerable variation in the colouring of the eggs, 

 but all are very beautiful. — Figs. 1, 2, plate XL 



ROSEATE "lEK^— {Sterna Dotigallii). 

 This bird is known to be a regular but not 

 abundant summer visitor. Unlike many of our re- 

 cognised British Birds, it seems rather to increase in 

 numbers than to diminish. They associate with 

 other and infinitely more common species, and closer 



