242 STERNID^E. 



the coast range from Wicklow to Balbriggan, and at their breed- 

 ing place upon the Rock a Bill, one not being obtained for 

 every fifty of the common tern ; even the eggs obtained upon 

 the day of our visit admitting a similar conclusion, only three 

 of their eggs to thirteen of the common, and seven of the 

 roseate terns. 



In some localities, more common around the island than 

 the other species, their non-occurrence about the Dublin 

 coasts is curious, as they are extensively distributed on the 

 northern, southern, and western shores, and appear in con- 

 siderable flocks. On the authority of W. J. Patten, Esq., 

 they are familiarly known on the west coast as " jourougs," 

 signifying a cross, peevish disposition ; so named from their 

 habit of picking and biting themselves when wounded and 

 thrown on the bottom of the boat. More commonly known 

 about the coast by the name of " skirrs," from the resem- 

 blance to the grating cry they utter, they are as often deno- 

 minated sea swallows, from their likeness to their land name- 

 sake, and being only a summer visitant to our shores. 



The flight of the birds of this family is remarkably light 

 and buoyant, and at times is performed with great velocity ; 

 but, when searching for food, they advance with regular and 

 rather slow strokes of the wing, and the instant a sand-eel or 

 fish is observed below, the tern descends in a rapid and headlong 

 plunge, passing through the air like a flash of light, and seiz- 

 ing, with unerring accuracy, the desired object with the bill. 



The flesh of the tern is singularly delicate, and we can 

 scarcely express wonder at its mention in the household books 

 of the olden time, even enjoying the honour of appearing 

 at the u mees" of royalty ; by which records we are also in- 

 formed of the value attached to it of fourpence per dozen. 



Habitat Eastern Europe. 



SPECIES 232 THE COMMON TERN. 



Sterna hirundo. Linn. 

 Hirondelle de mer pierre Garin. Temm. 



Skirr. 



BEARING a close resemblance to the Arctic, the common tern 

 is the most abundant of the Sternidse upon our shores, and is 

 of considerable interest from the fact of its indifferently fre- 

 quenting fresh -water lakes, or rocky islets in the sea for the 

 purposes of nidification. To our notice it has occurred in 

 considerable numbers on various parts of the coast. Similar in 

 the harbour of Cork as in Killiney Bay, during the same 



