276 



Leyden Museum there is an example, in full summer dress, from Bengal, obtained by M. Dus- 

 sumier. Mr. Howard Saunders has received it through Mr. Vincent Legge from Ceylon ; and 

 Mr. Wardlaw-Ramsay obtained it, in full breeding-plumage, in the Andaman Islands. 



It has also been obtained in Australia, and redescribed by Mr. Gould under the name of 

 S. gracilis. Mr. Gould says that Gilbert obtained it on the Houtmanns Abrolhos, off the western 

 coast of Australia, where, he states, it is very numerous, continually moving about from one 

 part of those islands to another, and settling during the heat of the day on the coral ridges in 

 large flocks. He was informed that it breeds there in great numbers during the month of 

 November ; but he was too late to procure its eggs. 



In America it is common on the Atlantic coasts of the United States. Dr. Gundlach states 

 that it has been observed on the coasts of Cuba and the northern shores of Porto Rico ; Mr. O. 

 Salvin met with it on the coast of British Honduras ; and there is a specimen in the British 

 Museum, registered as having been obtained off "Tabogo," which is probably a slip of the pen 

 for Tobago. 



I find but little on record respecting the habits of the present species, which do not differ 

 much from those of its allies ; but its flight is stated to be slower, and its voice differs from that 

 of the common or the Arctic Tern. Thompson says that, according to Captain Walker, of 

 Belmont, the nest of the Roseate Tern is ingenious : the sand is slightly hollowed ; and to prevent 

 the eggs rolling away it is surrounded by a small hoop about three inches in diameter, made of 

 bent (a strong grass which grows on the sand-hills) and put very neatly together. Mr. A. 

 Benzon, of Copenhagen, who, as above stated, informed me that Dr. Heiberg found it breeding 

 near Thisted, in Denmark, in 1874, writes to me as follows : — " On the 16th May the Doctor took 

 one egg, and on the 20th May two eggs out of another nest. They were, like those of Sterna 

 anglica, placed in the more elevated portion of the island, in a dry sandy place, covered with 

 short grass, a little apart from where Sterna anglica bred. The birds were on the nests ; so that 

 there could be no mistake about them. These eggs, which are now in my collection, are very 

 characteristic, and differ not a little from others sent to me from America, Germany, and England 

 as those of the Roseate Tern. These latter resemble both in coloration and size those of the 

 common Tern, whereas the three above referred to resemble more closely light-coloured varieties 

 of the egg of Sterna anglica. but are less in size. In ground-colour they are light yellowish grey, 

 somewhat sparingly marked with violet-grey shell-markings and brown or blackish brown surface- 

 spots. In size they measure 44 by 34, 44 by 35, and 45 by 33 millims. respectively, whereas 

 those I have received from elsewhere as being those of this species measure from 38^ by 30 to 

 42 by 29^ millims. I may remark that in 1875 the Roseate Tern reappeared at the same place, 

 but did not breed there; and in 1876, when, in company with Dr. Heiberg, I visited the island, 

 we did not see it." 



Eggs of the Roseate Tern, in my own collection, obtained on the American coast, resemble 

 those of the common Tern, both in size and general coloration ; but one or two have the spots 

 rather smaller and more clearly defined, and are rather more elongated in shape. 



The specimens figured are an adult male, in full summer dress, and a young bird, both from 

 Massachusetts. 



