no OUR MIGRANT BIRDS 



only being suffused with rose-colour. Bill black, 

 yellow at tip. Legs and feet black. Length i6in. 

 Female : similar, but smaller ; after the moult black 

 head practically lost ; feathers at back of head bluish 

 black with white edges, and rose tinge to breast paler. 

 Young : head and nape white, mottled with brownish 

 black ; upper parts like adult, but marked with reddish 

 and blackish brown. Nestling : covered with down ; 

 upper parts greyish buff, mottled with greyish black ; 

 under parts white. 



Language. A harsh, grating scream like " kirhitt." 

 Habits. Like the other Terns it is a dashing and rapid 

 flier, and procures its prey by plunging itself violently 

 into the water, transfixing fish with its bill. Breeds in 

 Terneries, and the nests are usually quite close to one 

 another. 



Food. Fish chiefly. 



Nest. May or June. One brood. 



Site. In a slight hollow scratched in the sand or 

 shingle of the sea-shore, usually quite unsheltered. 



Materials. If any, a few bents. 



Eggs. Two or three. Warm stone-colour, boldly 

 spotted and blotched with black, deep brown, and grey. 



ROSEATE TERN (Sterna dougalli). 



April to September. Local, uncommon, and de- 

 creasing in numbers. Breeds sparingly on the Fame 

 and Scilly Islands, on Walney Island, and on some of 

 the Scottish is ands. 



Haunts. The sea. 



Observation. Distinguish from last by slimmer build, 

 and rather longer forked tail and shorter wings. 



