257 



2. The tarsus both in old and young birds is much shorter than in the Common Tern. 



3. The bill is almost entirely crimson, ■without any black on the culmen : it is also more slender. 



4. Young birds are more difficult to tell ; but the tarsus is a sure sign of distinction, and moreover there is a 



less amount of greyish black on the outer primaries, as will be seen by the preceding woodcut. 



The Arctic Tevn is found during the breeding-season throughout the whole of the northern 

 Palsearctic and Nearctic Begions, ranging much further north than the Common Tern [Sterna 

 fluviatilis) ; and during the winter season it migrates even as far south as the Cape. 



In the British islands it is common, especially in the northern portions. Mr. More gives 

 its breeding-range as " much the same as the Common Tern, and appears to be about equally 

 numerous; and if observed in fewer districts this is probably only because it has been passed 

 over, being either mistaken for, or associated with, the Common Tern." Mr. Eodd includes it in 

 his list of the birds of Cornwall, and says that it is " a common species in summer both on our 

 coast and at Scilly, at which locality its eggs may be obtained every year. In some seasons 

 various parts of England are visited by large flights of these birds ;" and Mr. J. Brooking Eovve 

 informs us that it is " common in Devonshire in autumn. On the 8th of May, 1842, great flights 

 visited the Exe ; and being in an exhausted state, hundreds were killed with sticks and stones." 



In Ireland Thompson records it as common in many localities, especially on the Kerry coast. 

 He states, however, that it is more a marine bird than the common species, in which we cannot 

 agree with him. 



In Scotland Mr. Eobert Gray says that it is much more numerous than the Common Tern, 

 and that there are numerous breeding-places on the western shores of Eoss, Inverness, and 

 Argyleshire ; and Captain Elwes found a large colony breeding on Haskeir, a small rock about 

 twelve miles west of North Uist, which was at a considerable distance from their feeding-grounds. 

 Our friend Mr. J. A. Harvie Brown also writes to us respecting this species in Scotland as 

 follows : — " Large colonies of these graceful birds have their breeding-quarters on many of the 

 islands of the Firth of Forth, the other common species [Sterna fluviatilis) associating with them, 

 but in smaller numbers. In the beginning of September small flocks, principally composed of 

 immature birds, appear on the coast, moving in a southerly direction; and stragglers are not 

 unfrequently observed as late as the end of the month. Elsewhere along the east coast, colonies 

 are found in almost every county, the numbers increasing apparently towards the north. In 

 East Sutherland, however, as far as our observation extends, the colonies of Terns seem to be com- 

 posed principally of Sterna fluviatilis ; but these localities are for the most part upon islands on 

 freshwater lochs. In some colonies not one specimen of Sterna hirundo can be detected. In 

 several instances we have met with solitary pairs of Terns (either S. fluviatilis or S. liirundo) 

 nesting at a considerable distance from the sea, and either breeding entirely in solitude or in 

 company with a colony of Gulls (Larus canus or L. fuscus). Thus during three successive 

 seasons we found a single pair of Terns breeding at a loch in the south-west of Sutherland, on 

 one occasion finding the eggs. We did not identify the species to our satisfaction, as, contrary 

 to the habit of these birds when found breeding in colonies, they were invariably shy and wild 

 when their breeding-haunt was approached." 



Mr. Hanbury Barclay, who has forwarded us some splendid specimens for inspection, found 

 this species common on the Orkneys, and writes that an island off Houten Head, on the main- 



