LARID^. 363 



Caspian Tern. Sterna casj^ia, Pallas. 



An accidental visitor, of veiy rare occurrence. 



Mr. lloss gives figures of this Tern in his MS. ' British Laridse,' and re- 

 marks that it is "by no means common on the Exe, seldom more than four 

 or six being seen during the summer. Their flight is high, and they are 

 much more shy than the other Terns, keeping to the open sea or the rocks 

 in small quiet bays of the coast." Whether these observations really apply 

 to this species it is difficult to determine. Mr. 11. Gumming, however, 

 informs us that a specimen was shot by Mr. Eudd, a well-known sportsman, 

 near Topsham, and was stutf'ed by Truscott. It was, he thinks, probably 

 the one figured by Mr. Ross. AVe know of no other specimen being 

 obtained on the Exe. An immature bird occurred at Teign mouth in Oct. 

 Ibiil (11. C). Another is said to have been shot on Torbay, September 

 28th, 1873 (E. P., Trans. Devon. Assoc, viii. p. 301). 



Although this fine Tern is to be found in the summer-time breeding so 

 near to us as on the coasts of Sweden and Denmark, it is only a very rare 

 straggler to our eastern and southern shores, and of the few instances 

 which are recorded of its occurrence some may perhaps be erroneous. 

 Thus, not very long ago a pair of Caspian Terns were reported to us from 

 Toibay, which proved to be only Sandwich Terns in adult plumage. 

 The superior size of the Caspian Tern, its bright coral-red beak and black 

 legs, ought to ensure its easy recognition. We never heard of one in any 

 stage of plumage having been obtained on the North Devon coast, and 

 the only reported Devonshire examjiles come fi'om the south coast of 

 the county. No Cornish Caspian Tern appears to be known. The late 

 Mr. J. Kodbard-llodbard, of Aldwick Court, Wriugton, in the county of 

 Somerset, wrote to inform us that he had in his collection a pair of 

 Caspian Terns w^hich had been shot on the breakwater at "N^'eymouth 

 when he was on a visit to that town in the year 1848. We believe this 

 ti» l>e the pair of Caspian Terns from Weymouth Mr. J. H. Gurney states 

 in his paper on the Uritish examples of this species that he was unable 

 to trace (Zool. 1887, p. 457). After Mr. llodl)ard's death his collection 

 was sold, and we have no information as to tlie present owner of these 

 rare specimens. Mr. Mansel-rieydell has recorded two others, one shot 

 in Poole Harbour in 18G0, and another on the Waroham river iu July 

 1.^72. 



The Caspian Tern has an extensive range over many parts of the world. 

 Eggs of this species in our possession were taken on an island in the 

 Persian Gulf. 



Gull-billed Tern. Sterna angUca, Mont. 



An accidental visitor, of extremely rare occurrence. 

 An immature bird was killed near I'lymoutli in October 1800, and is 

 now iu the possession of Mr. J. Brookiiig-Kowc (J. G., Zool. 1807, p. 557). 



