124 SANDWICH & ROSEATE TEENS. 



Plumage. Head, neck, breast, and under parts black. Back, 

 wings, and tail slate-grey. Vent white. Bill black. Legs and 

 feet reddish brown. Length 9 in. Female : rather paler 

 below, otherwise similar; after moult, forehead, throat, and 

 nape white ; under parts white, barred with grey. Young : 

 mottled with brown above ; full dress not assumed till the 

 second spring. 



Language. A shrill " crik." 



Habits. Flight rapid, buoyant, dashing, reminding one of 

 the Swallow's. It catches insects on the wing, and plunges 

 precipitately into the water Gannet-like after surface-swimming 

 fish. Like other Terns, it hovers with bill pointing downwards 

 when looking for food. 



Food. Aquatic insects, small fish, &c. 



Nidification. Breeds in Europe. 



SANDWICH TEEN (Sterna cantiaca). 



Migrant ; March to September. Local and uncommon. 

 Breeds in some numbers on the Fame Islands, Walney Island, 

 and other districts on the Scotch and Irish coasts. 



Plumage. Crown of head black ; upper parts pearl-grey. 

 Rump, tail, and under parts white, the breast only being suf- 

 fused with rose-colour. Bill black, yellow at tip. Legs and 

 feet black. Length 16 in. Female: similar, but smaller; 

 after the moult black head practically lost ; feathers at back of 

 head bluish black with white edges, and rosy 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. 



EOSEATE TEEN (Sterna dougalli). 



Migrant ; April to September. Local, uncommon, and de- 

 creasing in numbers. Breeds sparingly on the Fame and 



