32 Peel: The Orchids of the Upper Hodder Valley. 
[Eprpactis ‘ LATIFOLIA.’ I have an old note for this in Gibbs’ 
Wood, but it was almost certainly the next]. 
EPIPACTIS VIOLACEA (or media, atro-viridis). (See article on 
the Helleborines by Mr. F. Arnold Lees in The Naturalist, 
March, 1910). Grows in three colonies in Gibbs’ and Ash- 
not Woods on Yoredale and Limestone. Is troubled by 
insects but holdsitsown. Flowerslate July. Most of this 
wood was planted during 1809 or 1810. [Brought with 
young trees, I think.—F.A.L.] 
- Os 
The Home Life of the Terns. By W. Bickerton, M.B.0.U. London: 
Witherby & Co., 88 pp., 32 plates, 6s. net. 
Mr. Bickerton has written an extremely interesting account of the 
habits of the five species of British breeding Terns, which as far as the 
localities in which he has worked,*the writer can testify is very accurate. 
The author’s experience has, however, been limited to two localities, 
the first the well known Cumberland resort, Ravenglass; the second 
not named, but easily recognisable. Unfortunately it is impossible to 
make definite statements with regard to any particular species by the 
experience gained in one breeding haunt, as environment no doubt alters 
the habits of birds to some extent. With regard especially to the Sand- 
wich Terns, the birds on the Farnes are later in nesting than at Raven- 
glass and when they have finished their home duties at the latter place 
there are still many eggs or newly hatched young on the Farnes. The 
Author states also that this species does not choose to nest altogether in 
one particular spot, nor in one continuous area. This is certainly the 
case at Ravenglass, but on the Farnes they nest in two large colonies, 
as they doin one or two places in Holland. (He falls into a similar error with 
regard to the Lesser Tern, though quite correct as regards Ravenglass, 
does not apply to other haunts). It is interesting to.note that he has 
never seen a nest containing more than two eggs. It is certainly unusual 
to see more, but I have photographed one at Ravenglass containing 
three and have several times seen them with three eggs on the Farnes. 
It is somewhat curious that the watcher at Ravenglass considers that the 
light coloured young ones are hatched from light coloured shells and dark 
young ones from dark coloured shells, as this is the belief of Darling, 
the watcher on the Farnes, The author does not mention the fact that a 
nest frequently contains a young one of each shade. In dealing with the 
Arctic Tern, mention is made that in the particular haunt referred to there 
are many birds with white on the head, showing immaturity. Itis rather 
strange that with his experience at Ravenglass, he has not noticed that | 
the Sandwich Terns have, towards the end of the nesting season, but while 
still incubating, a considerable amount of white on the forehead, showing 
that they are assuming winter plumage before their domestic duties are 
finished. The author falls into a fault possessed by many bird photo- 
graphers, in assuming that he is the first to photograph a particular 
species. In Mr. Bickerton’s case, this I am perfectly sure is not intentional. 
The Roseate Tern was photographed on its nest long before the time he 
names, and I have photographs of both birds, nests and young. Mr. 
Bickerton’s experience with the Roseate is confined to eight nests and he 
concludes that they only lay one egg. I have seen many nests. One 
resort I know of will contain, I should say, about 50 pairs of birds, but the 
nests coming under my own observation have practically always had 2 eggs. 
There are many more matters one would like to touch upon did space 
permit. The illustrations, as might be expected by anyone who knows 
the author’s skill, are exceedingly fine and in practically every case 
excellently reproduced. The book can be thoroughly recommended as a 
careful and reliable account of the habits of the birds in the two particular 
haunts in which he has worked.—R. F. 
Naturalist, 
