THE CASPIAN TERN. 339 



lofty pines, a habit that may possibly be common to them, 

 but which never before came under my observation. 



The Caspian Tern (Skrdn-Tdrna, i.e. screeching tern, 

 Svv. ; Rov-Terne, Dan. ; Sterna Caspia, Pall.), the largest 

 of the European Terns, was owing to constant persecu- 

 tion rare in the Gothenburg and neighbouring " Skar- 

 gardar," and seldom met with there, excepting on the 

 outermost of the islands. From what Nilsson says, ope 

 would be inclined to believe this bird altogether confines 

 itself to the sea-coast. But if this be the Professor's 

 meaning he is under a mistake, because, to my personal 

 knowledge, a dozen pairs at the least nest every summer 

 in the Wenern. 



According to Kjaerbolling, the Caspian Tern is found in 

 abundance on Sylt, an island lying off the western coast 

 of Sleswig ; the inference to be drawn from which is 

 that it is a social sort of bird, and fond of the society 

 of its fellows. Such is not the case in the Wenern, at 

 least, where we were never aware of more than a single 

 pair nesting on the same small rocky islet, the place 

 \\ith us usually chosen by them for that purpose. Once 

 in a time, it is true, a second pair might have its habitat 

 in the near vicinity ; but, speaking generally, we found 

 the several pairs miles and miles apart. With other birds 

 they would seem to live on a more amicable footing, for 

 I have on several occasions met with the nests of the 

 Great Black-backed Gull and the Common Gull in the 

 immediate vicinity of their own. 



With us, the female made no nest whatever, but 

 deposited her eggs, one to three in number^ and yellowish- 

 white in colour, marked with ash-grey and brown spots, 

 in a small cavity, or indentation of the rock, and for the 

 most part near to its loftiest point. During incubation, 

 and afterwards, both male and female most jealously 

 guard both eggs and young, more especially the latter; 



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