ROSEATE TERN. 23 



breeding from 82 N. lat. (or higher ? ) down to about 50 N. 

 in Europe and 42 in America. In winter southwards to the 

 coasts and waters of Peru, Chili, Brazil, Africa, and even to 

 66 S. lat. in the Southern Ocean." 



Habits. In its mode of life the present species differs but 

 little from the Common Tern. It is very bold when its nests 

 are in danger, and not only drives off Gulls and Skuas, but will 

 also swoop at any man who approaches the vicinity of its nest. 

 The young birds assemble in flocks after the nesting season, 

 and Mr. E. W. Nelson says that in Alaska, towards the middle 

 of August, they are very common on the marshes, and follow 

 an intruder about from place to place, uttering an odd, squeaky 

 imitation of the notes of the adult birds. They heedlessly 

 hover close over head, and the expression of innocent wonder 

 in their soft black eyes makes them amusing little creatures to 

 watch. 



Nest. A hollow in the sand without linings ; but when 

 marshy ground is selected Mr. Nelson says that the nest is 

 lined with a few grass stems. Sometimes the eggs are laid on 

 the bare rock just beyond the reach of the waves. 



Eggs. Two or three in number, the former being the usual 

 complement, according to my correspondent, Mr. Robert 

 Read. They are rather smaller than those of the Common 

 Tern, and present more variations in colour. While many have 

 the characteristic spots and blotches of a similar aspect to that 

 of the eggs of Sterna fluviatilis, there is, in a general sense, a 

 distinctly more spotted appearance. Axis, 1*4-17 inch: 

 diam., i'i-i'2. 



III. THE ROSEATE TERN. STERNA DOUGALLI. 



Sterna dougalli, Mont. Orn. Diet. Suppl. (1813) ; Dresser, B. 

 Eur. viii. p. 273, pi. 581 (1876); B. O. U. List Brit. B. 

 p. 181 (1883) ; Saunders, ed. Yarrell's Brit. B. iii. p. 544 

 (1884); Seebohm, Hist. Brit. B. iii. p. 277 (1885); 

 Saunders, Man. Brit B. p. 629 (1889); Lilford, Col. Fig. 

 Brit. B. part xxviii. (1894); Saunders, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. 

 xxv. p. 70 (1896). 



