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THE ARCTIC TERN. Sterna Arctica. With reference to 

 its occurrence, around the British shores at least, this Tern 

 might more appropriately have been termed Common than 

 the last. It breeds on the Fern and Coquet Islands, and 

 in the Isle of May, and is plentiful in the Orkney and Shet- 

 land Islands, where Mr. Dunn mentions it in his published 

 account as the only species of Tern he has met with. Al- 

 though it prefers to deposit its eggs upon sand or gravel, 

 where these do not occur, and the station is otherwise to its 

 taste, it will deposit them upon the grass, scratching a hole, 

 and lining it with fine dry grass. In the Orkneys and 

 Shetlands, it makes its nest on the gravelly beach and low 

 rocks, and sometimes amongst the short dry grass on the 

 tops of low cliffs, and always in exposed situations. The 

 eggs, two or three in number, are usually laid at the be- 

 ginning of June, and are very like those of the last species. 

 " The eggs of both are subject to the same endless varieties, 

 from a ground-colour of white, light-blue, or pale-yellow, to 

 green and brown." 



THE WHISKERED TERN. Sterna leucopareia. On the 

 European continent, as in Great Britain, this appears to be 

 a rare species. The eggs considerably resemble those of 

 the Common and Arctic Terns in size, form, and colour. 



