SANDWICH TERN. 133 



SANDWICH TERN. 



PLATE CCXIII. FIGURE I. 



Sterna cantiaca, MONTAGU. BEWICK. 



Sterna cantiaca, JENYNS. GOULD. 



Sterna Bqysii, FLEMING. SELBY. 



rriHESE birds live together in large colonies, hun- 

 -- dreds, 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 vege- 

 tation. 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 



