SOOTY TERN. 



295 



p. 213) as having been obtained on one of the lightships at the mouth of 

 the Thames in September 1875. This specimen was purchased from a local 

 birdstuffer by Mr. Bid well, in whose collection it now is, two years after its 

 alleged occurrence. Of the other species two examples are recorded (Thomp- 

 son, B. Ireland, iii. p. 308) as having been shot about four years previously 

 off the coast of Wexford ; they were procured, roughly skinned, from the 

 captain of a vessel, who stated that they had been shot in his presence. 

 The geographical distribution of both these species differs very^ slightly 

 from that of the Sooty Tern. The eggs of the Noddy Tern are figured 

 on Plate 49 ; those of the Smaller Sooty Tern resemble the eggs of its 

 larger ally, but are a little less. 



Both these species of Terns are included in the ' List of British Birds 

 compiled by a Committee of the British Ornithologists' Union/ whilst 

 Bonaparte's Gull is rejected. The reasons for these decisions are in- 

 scrutable. 



