3* BRITISH BIRDS, WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 



crew of the fishing- craft that had piloted us from the harbour, we approached one 

 of the colonies, and selecting a spot, at the distance of about sixty yards, where 

 rough stones and litter were scattered among the slabs of rock, a shelter that 

 afforded ample concealment was, with the help of a piece of old sail-cloth, speedily 

 rigged up. After completing the work and placing the finishing touches on my 

 hiding place, the men withdrew towards the boats. A very few minutes had 

 elapsed when the Terns, after following the disturbers of their peace for some 

 distance, gradually reappeared on the scene, and after hovering round for a time 

 without detecting the alteration that had taken place, the main body settled quietly 

 down, though a few still continued on wing. The greater number of those that 

 had alighted shortly betook themselves to their domestic duties, others were busily 

 occupied in cleaning their plumage, and the remainder, after stretching and going 

 through various contortions, buried their heads in the feathers of the back and 

 sought repose. Ample opportunities for making good use of the glasses were now 

 offered 



" The tints on the breast of this species, when seen in life or immediately 

 after death, are far deeper and richer than even the most enterprising colourists 

 have ventured to depict ; the rosy hue, however, soon commences to fade, and in 

 less than an hour a considerable alteration has taken place. The depth of the 

 colouring doubtless varies considerably in different individuals, and also according 



to the season of the year It is, I am of opinion, only through May and 



the early part of June that the rosy tints are to be seen in their full beauty." 



The Roseate Tern " is at all times," says Andubon, who observed it on the 

 Florida Keys, " a noisy, restless bird, and on approaching its breeding place it 

 incessantly emits its sharp shrill cries, resembling the syllables crah. Its flight is 

 unsteady and flickering like that of the Arctic or Lesser Terns, but rather more 

 buoyant and graceful. They would dash at us and be off again with astonishing 

 quickness, making great use of their tail on such occasions. While in search of 

 prey they carry the bill in the manner of the Common Tern that is, perpen- 

 dicularly downward, plunge like a shot with wings nearly closed, so as to immerse 

 part of the body, and immediately re-ascend. They were seen dipping in this 

 manner eight or ten times in succession, and each time generally secured a small 

 fish. They usually kept in parties of from ten to twenty, followed the shores of 

 the sand-bars and keys, moving backwards and forwards much in the manner of 

 the Lesser Tern, and wherever a shoal of small fish was found, there they would 

 hover and dash headlong at them for several minutes at a time." 



