SANDWICH TERN ARCTIC TERN. 241 



Having had many opportunities of observing these birds, it 

 is a species which has gratified us extremely by its interesting 

 habits. Possessing a bold, rapid flight, in most instances it 

 attracts attention by its loud, grating cry, incessantly uttered, 

 and resembling the words, u gareek," u greek." Watchful 

 and difficult to approach, we could never succeed in obtaining 

 a chance shot at them when on the level strand of Portmar- 

 nock and Baldoyle ; at which places, observing them during 

 the summer and autumn of various years, we were induced 

 to visit the principal breeding place of the terns upon the 

 east coast, situated at the Cow and Calf rocks, two small 

 islets of granitic formation lying to the north of Lambay. 

 On describing them to the boatmen, we were agreeably sur- 

 prised to find them well known as u big skirrs," to distinguish 

 them from the smaller and common species. On approaching 

 the rock three detached flocks, composed of the common ro- 

 seate and Arctic terns, flew from it, so beautiful and spotless in 

 appearance as to suggest the notion of so many silvery clouds, 

 whilst the kittiwakes in a large body wheeled backwards and 

 forwards across the rock ; with the exception of a single sand- 

 wich tern, none remained perching on the rock. Scarcely 

 had it flown off", and uttered its harsh scream, when it was 

 joined by two others, who continued flying in circles at an 

 immense altitude over head during the time we remained. 

 Their flight was exceedingly beautiful, outrivalling even that 

 of the buoyant roseate by its sudden and rapid turns, the 

 appearance of the different species reminding us of the swal- 

 lows and martins flying low whilst the swift is screaming at 

 a great height, so the three common species showed little 

 timidity, whilst the large sandwich species kept at a distance 

 screaming loudly. We obtained one broken egg of the sand- 

 wich tern, agreeing in size and marking with Continental 

 specimens in our collection. On our observing to the boat- 

 men their small numbers, they remarked that the large skirrs 

 flew daily inland to feed upon fresh-water fishes in the small 

 streams, returning to the rock at night. 

 Habitat Eastern Europe. 



SPECIES 231 THE ARCTIC TERX. 



Sterna Arctica. Linn. 

 Hirondelle de mer arctique. Temm. 



Skirr. Jourougs. 



THIS species, more unusual in its occurrence than the com- 

 mon or roseate terns, appears to be of considerable rarity on 



