ROSEATE-TERN 97 



other hand, its two streamers or outer tail feathers are longer and form 

 an excellent distinguishing character. The flight of the two species 

 is different, the wings of the roseate-tern being less elevated and 

 depressed, and the flight in consequence appearing less laboured and 

 more buoyant, while its wing-beats are slightly quicker. From time 

 to time, as a bird passes within a few yards, the lovely rosy flush on the 

 breast from which it derives its name is clearly perceptible, while the 

 black bill (instead of red, as in the common-tern) gives an unfailing test 

 when the bird is settled in front of one. The last is of course the best 

 character when watching a bird on the nest, as sometimes the long 

 tail feathers are hidden, but on the wing overhead the " streamers " 

 and the characteristic notes at once attract attention. The notes are 

 rather difficult to express on paper. Oswin Lee says that the call- 

 note is a long-drawn " krr-eee" rather like that of the common and 

 Arctic-terns, but much more shrill and prolonged, while, when dis- 

 turbed at its breeding-haunts, besides the usual " kik-kik-ktk " common 

 to all the Terns, it has a long piping note, " kee-ee-ee" almost like a 

 whistle, readily distinguishable among the babel of cries raised by the 

 accompanying throng of common and Arctic-terns. Messrs. Cuminings 

 and Oldham speak of the harsh "craak" of alarm and the call-note 

 " che-wick. Mr. Bickerton describes the alarm-note as a harsh " crrark- 

 crrark," while in my own notes it is described as harsher than that of 

 the common-tern, and not dissyllabic with the fall on the second 

 syllable, as in the well-known " kree-aa " of the common-tern, but 

 prolonged on the same note. On landing we find that the apparently 

 barren rock is covered on the top with a luxuriant growth of sea- 

 cabbage and other plants, whose growth is no doubt stimulated by the 

 droppings of the birds, which whiten the ground in all directions. The 

 sides are, however, boldly scarped and worked into innumerable rocky 

 hollows. Eggs of both species are lying about in scores : one must 

 walk warily so as not to trample upon them, and even at the first 

 hasty glance it is easy to see that there are two very different types 

 among them. The first thing to be done, after a hasty walk round, is 



VOL. III. N 



