376 LAKID.E 



It has been recorded six times from Ireland, having 

 visited the following counties : Dublin, Limerick, Tip- 

 perary, Waterford, and Clare. 



The first British-taken specimen was shot in Dublin 

 Bay in October, 1841 (Thompson, Nat. Hist. Irel., vol. iii, 

 p. 307). Another autumnal record is that of a bird killed 

 at Ilfracombe, North Devon, early in November, 1870 

 (Saunders). 



Three of the Irish specimens were obtained in the years 

 1874-75 (Ussher). More recently, i.e., in 1893, another 

 example was secured near Newmarket-on-Fergus, co. Clare, 

 " where it was engaged in hawking for flies over a small 

 lake " (Williams, ' Irish Naturalist,' 1893, p. 253). 



Flight. In its general habits this bird resembles the 

 preceding species. It chases and captures insects on the 

 wing, and its flight is even more rapid and buoyant than 

 that of the Black Tern. 



Food. Dragon-flies are consumed in considerable quan- 

 tities, likewise aquatic insects, worms, and minute fish. 



Voice. Its cry is harsh and rather scolding in character, 

 resembling the syllables crick-creik. 



Nest. : This species, which is gregarious in the breeding- 

 season has been found nesting in company with the Black 

 Tern. Marshy grounds are usually resorted to, and the 

 eggs, laid in May or June, are often deposited on floating 

 vegetation. The nest is rudely constructed ; it contains 

 three eggs, coloured and marked not unlike those of the 

 Black Tern. 



Geographical distribution. The White-winged Black 

 Tern breeds in Central and South-eastern Europe, and in 

 Temperate countries of Asia. On its southern migration 

 it reaches South Africa and Tropical Asia, and many birds 

 travel to Australia. Exceptionally, it has been procured in 

 New Zealand and in North America. 



DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 



PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial. Head, neck, and back, 

 glossy-black ; wings, chiefly greyish ; feathers covering the 

 fold of the wing (carpal joint), pure white; primaries, frosted 

 with ' pearl ' grey on a ground-colour of black ; tail and upper 

 tail-coverts, pure white; tail, slightly forked; breast and 

 abdomen, black, the latter tinged with brown ; under tail- 

 coverts, white ; under wing-coverts and axillaries, black. 



