ROSEATE TERN. F 159 
in the water, and seeming to require almost an effort to support 
themselves on the surface at all. The contrast is certainly 
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 inclination 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. 
291—_SAND-WICH TERN—(Sterna Cantiaca). 
This bird has been noticed as breeding in several different 
localities on our southern coasts, and it is known to frequent 
both Coquet Island and one or more of the Farne Islands for 
the same purpose. It lays three or four eggs in a hole, or rather 
cavity, either scratched or found ready-made in the neighbour- 
hood 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. J, 2, 
plate XI. 
292. ROSHATE TERN—(Sterna Dougallit). 
This bird is now known to bea regular but not abundant 
summer visitor. Unlike many of onr recognised British Birds, 
this Tern seems rather to increase in numbers than to diminish. 
They associate with other and infinitely more common species, 
and closer observation only has distinguished between them and 
their eggs and those of their more numerous associates. The 
egos of the Roseate Tern are two or three in number, and vary 
among themselves to some small extent. They are usually of a 
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