LARIDjE. 247 



Family LARID.E. 



SANDWICH TERN, Sterna Boysii. Has been 

 obtained at Pevensey, Selsey, and Rye in May 

 and June, as well as during the autumnal months. 



COMMON TERN or SEA SWALLOW, Sterna hi- 

 rundo. Provincial, Skiff. The wide-spreading 

 bed of shingle near Pevensey Bay, between East- 

 bourne and Bexhill, is still the resort of many 

 species of terns in the breeding-season ; but they 

 are not so numerous as they used to be, probably 

 in consequence of the vast number of their eggs 

 which have been taken during the summer, the 

 sale of which amounted a few years ago almost to 

 a regular traffic. I have heard that a person, who 

 lived at that time near Bexhill, had a peculiar 

 breed of dog a sort of cross, as I understand, 

 between a setter and a water-spaniel which he 

 trained to hunt for the eggs of terns, ring-dot- 

 terels, and lapwings : and valuable coadjutors 

 they proved. Quartering the ground like a pointer 

 or setter, and taking advantage of the direction of 

 the wind in the same manner, they would draw 

 gradually towards the spot where the eggs of 

 a tern had been deposited whether the bird was 

 at home or not and drop within a yard of them. 

 Such assistance must have greatly lessened the 



