128 



SANDWICH TERN. 



PLATE CCXIII. FIG. I. 



Sterna cantiaca, MONTAGU. BEWICK. 



" " JENYNS. GOULD. 



Sterna Boysii, FLEMING. SELBT. 



THESE birds live together in large colonies, hundreds, and even 

 thousands of pairs crowding together in the same places, the eggs in 

 consequence being so close together that it is difficult to avoid treading 

 on them. The situation chosen is a sandy place, covered at the most 

 with short and bare vegetation. If the nesting-place is approached, 

 the birds fly about in a cloud. They are late in breeding, seldom 

 commencing till the month of June. 



The eggs are usually two, but sometimes three or even four in number. 

 Meyer says, 'The bird sits on them during the whole night, but only 

 occasionally during the day, and as in the preceding species, some few 

 birds remain about the breeding-places, to keep watch during the 

 absence of the rest. It has been asserted that these birds, although 

 laying two or three eggs only for a brood, will, when the eggs are 

 taken out of the nest daily, continue laying for a fortnight/ The eggs 

 vary exceedingly, and are extremely beautiful. They are of a pale 

 yellowish stone-colour, thickly spotted and marked with deep reddish 

 brown, orange brown, blackish brown, and grey. Some are of a 

 whitish and others of a dull green ground colour, with spots of a 

 darker shade. 



