Fortune: The Birds of the Farne Islands. 237 
It was upon the Wamses we had a good view of a so-called 
Iceland Gull, which, however, as we anticipated, turned out to 
be a variety of the Lesser Black Back. 
A few Shags may be seen about, but they do not nest upon 
the islands. 
Next to the Kittiwakes the Terns appear to me to have the 
most interest, and special attention is paid to their protection. 
Four species nest here, viz., the Common, Arctic, Roseate, and 
Sandwich Tern. By far the most abundant is the Arctic Tern, 
the Farnes being their southern breeding limit on the East 
Coast. Common Terns are not so numerous. It is practically 
impossible to distinguish them from their Arctic cousins when 
on the wing. An odd pair or two of Roseate Terns nest 
amongst the commoner species. They may be recognised when 
in the air by their cry, which differs from that of the other two. 
On the ground they are easy enough to detect, but unless the 
bird is seen upon the nest it is impossible to distinguish between 
the eggs of all three species. A few Arctic Terns nest on the 
Brownsman, but the headquarters of these birds are upon the 
Wide-opens and Knoxes. These two islands are quite different 
in character from the others. The Knoxes is a low island 
covered with sand and pebbles, with a somewhat higher rock 
formation at one end. This island is practically sacred to the 
Terns, which lay their eggs all over the place amongst the 
pebbles or on the sand in a most indiscriminate manner, 
usually without the slightest attempt at a nest. So close do 
they deposit their eggs to the edge of the water that quantities 
are destroyed every season when the wind brings the waves a 
little higher than usual. There is also a fine colony of Sand- 
wich Terns, which seem to prefer to nest ona higher ground 
than the others, and form a very conspicious object clustered 
together on the top of an elevated place. 
Numbers of Terns nest on the Wide-opens also. Whena 
visitor lands it is a perfect babel of harsh cries, for though these 
birds are dainty and handsome creatures, their cry is harsh to 
a degree. They have a curious habit of suddenly ceasing their 
outcry and taking a sweeping flight out to sea, returning to 
re-commence their clamour. 
On the Wide-opens the Arctic Terns make a better attempt 
at nest building, but this may be on account of the materials 
being handier to obtain. Eider Ducks are very plentiful on the 
Wide-opens, nesting amongst some luxuriant vegetation; on 
the Knoxes they nest on the bare sand. 
1907 July 1.; 
