502 LARID^E. 



them, a regular summer- visiter, but not in very large 

 numbers. Mr. Wm. Thompson obtained specimens in 

 summer from a small rocky islet near the entrance to 

 Belfast Bay. Mr. Heysham has recorded a specimen 

 obtained at Brugh Marsh Point, on the Cumberland side 

 of the Solway, and there is reason to believe that this 

 Tern, with others, breeds on some of the low flat islands 

 in the Solway Firth. Mr. Thomas Howitt sent me 

 notice of its occurrence in Lancashire. T. C. Eyton, Esq. 

 has recorded its capture in Shropshire. It has been killed 

 in Cornwall and Devonshire, but does not appear so often 

 on the southern shores as on those of the west or east 

 coasts. Mr. Selby, in his account of the birds of the Farn 

 Islands, says, " Several years ago the keeper of the outer 

 Lighthouse first noticed this as a new and distinct species. 

 Information was given me of the circumstance, and I went 

 over to ascertain the fact, and having killed several, found 

 them to be the Sterna Dougalii, or Roseate Tern of 

 Montagu. Since that period they have greatly increased, 

 and now form a numerous colony, which occupies a large 

 space of ground near to that occupied by the Arctic Terns, 

 and a second station upon one of the Walmseys. The old 

 birds are easily recognized amidst hundreds of the other 

 species, by their peculiar and buoyant flight, long tail, and 

 note, which may be expressed by the word crake, uttered 

 in a hoarse grating key. Its eggs are rather larger than 

 those of S. arctica, and the young differ both in the early 

 or downy, and in the feathered state." The eggs measure 

 one inch nine lines and a half in length, by one inch two 

 lines and a half in breadth ; of a yellowish stone colour, 

 spotted and speckled with ash-grey and dark brown, 

 These birds live upon small fish. 



This Tern in summer visits Norway and the Baltic ; and 

 Richard Dann, Esq. sent me word that it breeds in Lap- 



