BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 291 



TERN, ROSEATE. 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about 

 fifteen and a half inches. Bill rather long, straight, 

 and sharp pointed ; from the tip to the nostrils 

 it is black, and from thence to the base red. 

 Irides dark brown. Crown and back of head black ; 

 neck white all round ; back and wings ash-grey ; 

 tail much forked, long, and pale ash-grey. Breast, 

 belly, sides, vent, and under tail-coverts white, 

 tinged strongly with rose colour. Legs, toes, and 

 webs red. It may be distinguished from the other 

 members of the Tern family by its rose-coloured 

 under-parts and elegant, attenuated form. It has been 

 mentioned as occupying the same place amongst 

 Terns as the greyhound does amongst dogs. 



The female is very similar to the male. 



Situation and Locality. On the ground, in a 

 slight hollow, amongst sand and shingle, 011 low 

 rocky islands, such as the Fame and Scilly. So 

 far as the British Isles are concerned, this beautiful 

 bird, as a nesting species, was supposed to have 

 become banished. A few pairs tried to re-establish 

 themselves on the Fame in 1880, but were recog- 

 nised, and all shot or driven away by a light-house 

 attendant, despite the law for their protection 

 being then in force. It is pleasant, however, to be 

 able to record that, according to the keepers, two 

 pairs succeeded in rearing their young at the Fame 

 Islands in the year 1894. 



Materials. Sometimes with, and at others with- 

 out, a slight lining of bents. 



Eggs. Two to three. " Ground colour creamy 

 white or buff-brown, blotched and clouded with 

 bluish-grey and rich brown," according to Mr. 



