5i86 LARIDM. 



" clouds/' that it was considered he might by following them have 

 killed a hundred in a day. He has shot several in a forenoon 

 that came directly in his way : all of which were the Sterna 

 hirundo.'* At Ballybunian, on the coast of Kerry, this species 

 was observed in 1833 by Capt. Sabine, 



In July 1834, I observed a number of terns in the bay of 

 Galway, near the town ; and Mr. R. Ball, when visiting the 

 islands of Arran off that coast, on the 12th of June, in the follow- 

 ing year, found the nests of terns [S. hirundo?) containing eggs 

 on the beach of Straw Island. On Deer Island, and one or two 

 other islands off the Galway coast, this or one of the nearly- allied 

 species breeds in quantity and in company with the Sterna minuta : 

 — both appear on wing together in pm-suit of prey. When feeding 

 on sprats they have come within two or three yards of the boat in 

 wliich my informant (the late Mr. John Nimmo) was fishing. 

 On the rocky Hards Islands, off the same coast, where it is called 

 durogiie, the S. hinuido nidifies; the species being ascertained 

 by a young bird having been shot there on the 1st of August, 

 18i4.t 



Fresh-2oater Breeding -haunts. — Montagu was not aware of this 

 species breeding at any but marine localities in England, but its 

 doing so about the fresh-water lakes of Ireland is of annual occur- 

 rence. When at Port Lough, a small lake or tarn,X on the north- 

 west of Donegal, on the 29tli of June, 1832, 1 was conveyed in a 

 " corragh" to its two islands, where this species, with several of 

 its .nests containing eggs, were observed. The nests were placed 

 among loose stones, and all composed of the common reed 

 {Arimdo phragmites) and Equiseta, both of which grow on the 

 islet; — a nest of the black-headed gull and sandpiper were 

 likewise foimd there. On visiting Eam's Island, in Lough 

 Neagh, on the 15th June, 1833 (in company with Mr. William 

 Sinclaire), for the purpose of ascertaining what species of gulls 



* Mr. Rotert Warren, jim. t Kev. G. Eobinsou. 



\ From "Willughby's 'Ornithology' we learn that — "In the northern parts [of 

 England] they call them terns ; whence Tiu'ner calls them, in Latine, Sterna, be- 

 nause they freqnent lakes and great pools of water, which in the north of England 

 ■,\vt called iarns"\ — p. 353. 



