274 SANDWICH TERX. 



cross the ground without breaking the eggs or in- 

 juring the unfledged young." Further up the Firtd 

 the colonies are not so numerous, but their habi^ 

 are similar. At low water the birds which are noi 

 incubating rest on the sandbanks; they will not 

 suffer a near approach, but rise in a silver cloud 

 and fly towards the intruder with great clamour and 

 angry demonstrations ; and if one can be secured, 

 they will approach very near, hovering over it. 

 Immediately on seeing any person or animal with 

 which they are unacquainted, they commence vent- 

 ing their harsh and wild screams, and small parties, 

 flying noiselessly along, betray themselves by their 

 calls as soon as the stranger is perceived. 



The forehead, crown, and occiput, where the fea- 

 thers are lengthened and almost form a pendent crest, 

 are black, more or less spotted with white, which 

 appears very seldom to go entirely off. The under 

 plumage and back of the neck white, with a greater 

 or less degree of rosy tint in different specimens ; 

 mantle and wings grey, quills blackish grey, the 

 inner half of the inner webs white, shafts strong, 

 yellowish white ; rump, upper tail-covers, and tail, 

 white; bill, legs, and feet, black, former with the 

 tip straw-yellow. In winter the crown and fore- 

 head are described to be white, the occiput black 

 feathers tipped with white. The young are above 

 pale wood-brown, transversely barred with brocoli- 

 brown ; white below ; the tail greyish black in the 

 centre. 



