276 ROSEATE TERN. 



it reached the ground. The Roseate Tern breeds 

 also on the Isle of May in considerable abundance, 

 where our specimens were obtained. There is an- 

 other colony on the Cumbrae Islands in the Firth 

 of Clyde, and there may be many others around the 

 Scottish coast which have not yet been noticed, 

 when parties are met with at sea, there is a length- 

 ened slightness of form that betrays them to the 

 ornithologist, or they are at once distinguished by 

 their call being different from that of the arctic or 

 common terns. We have a specimen very closely 

 allied, if not identical, from the island of Tobago. 

 Mr. Audubon found the Roseate Tern breeding in. 

 abundance on the Florida Keys, in company with 

 the Sandwich tern. 



Specimens of this graceful species, shot on the 

 Isle of May, Firth of Forth, during the breeding 

 season, are distinguished by the delicate form, the 

 pale tint of the mantle, the rosy hue of the un- 

 der parts when newly killed, and by the bill being 

 black as far as the nostrils, the base of it only 

 vermilion-red. The forehead and crown passing 

 narrowly below the eyes, and terminating in a peak 

 on the back of the neck, deep black ; the mantle 

 and wings very pale grey; the quills having the 

 outer webs and shaft half of the inner darker, the 

 outer webs of the first blackish grey, the shafts of 

 all strong and white ; rump and lower back white ; 

 tail long, the outer feathers narrow, much lengthened, 

 forming a deep fork, entirely pure white. The cheeks, 

 sides of the neck, and all the under parts, white, 



