TERNS. 105 



" Sea-Birds Preservation Act" was passed, Mr. Eolls 

 killed no less than seven at one shot at Weymouth. 

 An immature bird, shot at Poole in the autumn of 

 1874, is in the collection of Mr. Pike. 



C OMMON TEEN. Sterna fluviatilis, Naumaun. 



Yarrell, iii. p. 549; Harting, p. 75; Dresser, viii. p. 263; His 

 List, p. 1 80 ; Sterna hirundo, Seebohm, iii. p. 280 ; Pulteney's 

 List, p. 1 8. 



A common summer visitant, frequenting the 

 Chesil Bank, where it breeds annually. It may be 

 seen following the mackerel-nets as they are being 

 brought ashore, at one moment hovering overhead, 

 and the next plunging with closed wings into the 

 sea to capture some small fish which the encircling 

 net has brought within view. Until recently this 

 bird was considered to be the Sterna hirundo of 

 Linnseus ; but the species described by him under 

 that name is evidently the Arctic Tern, as may be 

 inferred from his description of the bill, which in the 

 Common Tern has a dark tip, but in the Arctic Tern 

 is red throughout its entire length. 



ARCTIC TEEN. Sterna macrura, Naumann. 



Yarrell, iii. p. 553; Ibis List, p. 180; Sterna hirundo, Harting, 

 p. 76; Dresser, viii. p. 255; Sterna arctica, Seebohm, iii. 

 p. 284. 



The Arctic Tern visits us in spring and autumn, 

 but is much less numerous than the Common Tern, 

 and does not breed in Dorsetshire. A great number 



