1 86 British Birds, 



observation only has distinguished between them and 

 their eggs and those of their more numerous associ- 

 ates. The eggs of the Roseate Tern are two or three 

 in number, and vary among themselves to some small 

 extent. They are usually of a light yellowish stone- 

 colour, spotted and speckled with dark -grey and dark- 

 brown. 



COMMON TERN— (5/^r;/^ fluviaiilis ; formerly, 

 5. ]iirundo). 



Sea Swallow, Tarney or Pictarney, Tarrock, Pirr, 

 Gull-teazer, etc. — Although distinguished by the 

 epithet of Common, this Tern is really not much 

 more numerous, and in that sense common, than one 

 or two other species with which it customarily con- 

 sorts. It is very generally diiffused, however, and in 

 that sense is common. It usually builds on the ground 

 in marshy localities near large sheets of water, or on 

 islands low and flat not far from the sea. Sometimes, 

 though more rarely, it builds upon low rocks or 

 slightly elevated sand-banks. They lay two or three 

 eggs, and are exceedingly and noisily restless and un- 

 easy when they, or especially tlieir young, are too 

 nearly approached. Their eggs vary a good deal, but 

 most of them are of a medium stone-colour, blotched 

 and spotted with ash-grey and dark red-brown. The 

 buoyancy and power of flight exhibited by these 

 birds is very observable. — Fig, Z, plate XI. 



ARCTIC '^^'K^— {Sterna macrura ; formerly, 

 S. arctica). 



This Tern, until a comparatively recent period, was 



