66 THE TERNS 



the migration limits, but Saunders obtained specimens from Cape Colony, and in 

 S. America it has been obtained at Bahia in Brazil, [r. c. R. J.] 



3. Migration. A summer visitor which is said to arrive at the very end of 

 April and to leave as soon as the young can fly (cf. Saunders, III. Man. B. B., 2nd ed., 

 1899, p. 646). But the relative scarcity of the species has made accurate migra- 

 tional study very difficult. [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. In most cases the breeding colonies are found on bold 

 rocky islets, but in some cases the eggs are recorded as having been found among sand 

 and shingle. Most of those which I have personally examined were placed in recesses 

 or ledges of rocks, or in miniature caves, sometimes sheltered by the coarse vegetation 

 growing on the rocks. In only a few cases was any nest material used, the eggs 

 being laid on the bare rock or shingly ground. The full clutch consists of 2 eggs, 

 but in some cases only a single egg is laid. Quite exceptional cases of clutches of 

 3 have occasionally been recorded. Normally they are readily distinguishable from 

 those of the Arctic and common terns, though occasionally eggs of the latter species 

 are indistinguishable. The ground-colour varies but little, being almost always 

 light stone colour, occasionally suffused with brownish. The markings consist of 

 small spots and speckles of chocolate to sepia, with underlying blotches and spots of 

 ashy grey, and in some cases the dark markings form a very distinct zone round the 

 big end of the egg. Not a single egg out of a large number examined showed the 

 varied ground-colours prevalent in a colony of Arctic-terns. (PI. H.) They are 

 also large for the size of the bird, and elongated in shape : average size of 37 authentic 

 eggs, 1'74 x T16 in. [44*4 x 29*5 mm.]. Accurate observations on the length of the 

 incubation period and the share of the sexes in the work are still wanting, but 

 probably in these respects they differ little from their congeners. The breeding 

 season is rather late, and the eggs are not as a rule laid till June, generally about the 

 first week in that month. Only one brood is reared during the season. [F. c. B. J.] 



5. Food. Chiefly fish and floating marine organisms. Information is 

 scanty. [F. B. K.] 



SANDWICH- TERN [Sterna sandvicensis Latham; Sterna cantiaca 

 Gmelin. Sparling, kek-swallow, skrike, pearl-gull (Devon), schreecher 

 (Kent). French, hirondette de mer caugek ; German, Brand-Seeschwalbe ; 

 Italian, beccapesci]. 



I. Description. The sandwich-tern is readily distinguished by its stouter 



