THE IIOSEATE TERN. 271 



Northumberland, and Sir Wm. Jardine supplies much informa- 

 tion respecting it in Scotland. In the portfolio of Dr. J. L. 

 Drummond I have seen a drawing of a Sandwich tern made by 

 him when in the navy, from a specimen shot at Gibraltar. The 

 species has a very extensive geographical range, embracing the 

 coasts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. 



THE ROSEATE TEEN. 



Sierna 2Mmdisea, Bvximi (1764). 

 „ Bougallii, Mont (1813). 



Is a regular summer visitant, known to breed in a few 

 localities on the eastern coast. 



Templeton knew this species only ii'om "one specimen shot in 

 Belfast Lough.^' Further information was obtained respecting it 

 on a visit made to the 



Mew Island, 



one of the three Copeland Islands outside the southern entrance, 

 by Mr. Wm. Sinclaire and myself, on the 1 1th of June, 1 837. One 

 of these, a low, flat, rocky islet, but with short pasture affording 

 food to cattle, is a chosen breeding-place of the terns, nnd either 

 from these birds or gulls having formerly frequented it, bears the 

 name of the Mew Island. Immense numbers of terns were flying 

 around us, uttering their wild cry as we passed between the Mew 

 and Lighthouse Islands, and as the day was delightful, it was 

 extremely interesting to observe their evolutions. Poised beauti- 

 fully in the air, with their wings merely wafting, or beating to 

 maintain their position, they looked out keenly for their finny 

 prey, which, soon as perceived, the wings were drawn quick as 

 thought close to the body, and, like an arrow from a bow, they 

 shot from such a height into the water within a few yards of us, 

 as to be wholly immersed, or, more rarely, obtained their prey 



