514 LARIDJE. 



ful of the two. On several of the smaller and less-fre- 

 quented islands many hundreds of their eggs were taken in 

 a few minutes, and in some places it was difficult to move 

 without treading upon them ; a loose cloud of Terns of 

 both species hovering about, uttering incessant cries, and 

 darting down to within a few feet of the invaders of their 

 peaceful territory." Mr. Wm. Thompson notices that it 

 is common and widely distributed in Ireland; and Mr. 

 Eyton says this Tern breeds on the Skerries, about nine 

 miles north of Holyhead ; but a most unusual number of 

 this species made their appearance early in the month of 

 May of the year 1842, in and about the estuary of the 

 Severn, and up the line of its course. I heard of them at 

 Swansea, from Mr. L. Dillwyn, and Mr. Bicheno ; great 

 numbers were seen and many obtained. At Monmouth 

 the same thing happened. On the east side of the Severn 

 Mr. Robert Whitefield, of the Water Farm, near Bridge- 

 water, sent me notice of the appearance of this unusual 

 visitor there. The following is an extract from the 

 "Bristol Mirror: 5 ' "During the high winds that pre- 

 vailed on Sunday last, May 8th, our harbour and floating 

 docks were visited by large flights of a rare and beautiful 

 species of bird, the Sterna arctica, or Arctic Tern. The 

 birds were assembled in such vast numbers that two or 

 three hundred were killed with stones and other missiles, 

 whilst several were caught alive ; and so tame were they, 

 that many were observed to pitch on the backs of passers- 

 by. Flocks of these birds were also observed the same day 

 at Clevedon, Weston, and other places along the Channel 

 coast." Mr. H. E. Strickland published in the Annals 

 and Magazine of Natural History for June, 1 842, a 

 notice of the simultaneous appearance of this bird over 

 a large extent of country in the same vicinity. Forty 

 specimens procured on the 8th and 9th were taken to one 



