23 QUARTERLY BULLETIN. 



Sterna anglica, Mont. Marsh Tern. A few pairs were seen, 

 but the}' had not commenced to breed during my visit; they 

 nest here sparingly, however, as I had a set of their eggs sent me 

 which were laid the last of June. 



Sterna regia, Gamb. Royal Tern. Called "Gannets" by the na- 

 tives. They have always been found breeding on a small sand-bar 

 off the island, but it was washed away during the winter of '74-5, 

 and although the birds were flying around they had not chosen any 

 spot on which to breed, but they undoubtedly did later. 



Sterna hirundo, Auct. Common Tern. " Big Strikers" of the isl 

 anders. Very common ; their principal breeding grounds are on the 

 marshes, where the drifts deposited by the early spring tides are 

 thickly covered with their nests. These are merely formed of dried 

 reeds, lined with finer pieces of the same. A few pairs ars also found 

 in the colonies of Least Terns, in which case they make no nest, but 

 deposit their eggs in a slight depression in the sand. These are al- 

 ways three, and we're all fresh, having been robbed by the eggers 

 from the time of their laying about the middle of May. The Roseate 

 Tern (Sterna Dougalli), doubtless breeds here also, but I was 

 unable to detect it. 



Sterna superciliaris, var. antitlarum, Coues. Least Tern. " Little 

 Striker." Colonies of about fifty pairs eaoh of this species extend the 

 whole length of the island at about a distance of one mile apart. 

 The eggs were just laid and were all nearly fresh; two being the 

 usual number in a nest, and in no case did I find over three. These 

 were laid in a depi*ession in the sand among broken shells and are 

 very difficult to find owing to their similarity to the surroundings. 



Rhyuchops nigra, Linn. Black Skimmer. Called " Sea Crow." 

 The birds were in flocks of twenty or thirty, during my stay, as they 

 do not breed until the last of June. I had several sets of the eggs 

 sent me and the sender states that they breed in colonies on the sand 

 and always lav three iu a nest. 



