268 LAUIDiE. 



more singular than that of otliers of the terns of the south-east of 

 Europe. As the first procured in Western Europe^ it is looked 

 upon with surprise ; but when a few other individuals have been 

 obtained^ the circumstance will be regarded as nothing remark- 

 able. In the same way, when I noticed the Sterna stolida for the 

 first time as met with in the European seas, the announcement 

 was looked upon with wonder ; but within a few years afterwards 

 the bird was observed on the coast of Erance, and more recently 

 in St. George^s Channel. 



The Caspian Tern {Sterna Caspia, Pallas), wliicli has been obtained 

 several times on the coasts of Norfolk and Suffolk, is not known to 

 have visited Ireland ; — or Scotland (Jard. Macg.) ; nor has the 



Gull-billed Tern (Sterna Anglica, ]\Iontagu), though a few indi- 

 viduals have been procured in different parts of England. 



THE SANDWICH TERN. 



Sterna Cantiaca, Gmel. 

 „ BoT/sil, Eath. 



Is of occasional occurrence on the coast in summer juid 

 autumn, both in immature and adult plumage. 



It was first indicated as an Irish species in the Proceedings of 

 the Zoological Society of London for 1833 (p. 33), from a speci- 

 men shot on the i-ith of August, 1832, in Belfast Bay, that came 

 into my possession in a recent state. At the indenture of the 

 shore here, opposite Garnerville, called Harrison's Bay, a shooter 

 was attracted by the call, such as he had never before heard, of 

 two birds flying overhead, and shot one of them. It proved to be 

 this species in its young plumage, as described and figured by 

 Latham, under the name of Sterna striata. The perishable colours 

 of the bill and legs (though changing little by drying in this 

 species) were noted — tarsi, toes, and webs black ; under side toes 

 yellowish ; bill blackish horn-colour, with yellow tip. On the 



