SANDWICH TERN. 



STERNA CANTIACA, J. F. Gmelin. 



Sterna cantiaca, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 606 (1788) ; Naum. 

 x. p. 50 ; Macff. v. p. 630 ; Heivitson, ii. p. 478 ; Yarr. 

 ed. 4, iii. p. 510; Dresser, viii. p. 301. 



Hirondelle de mer Caugek, French; Brand-Meerschwalbe, 

 German; Golondrina de mar, Spanish. 



It is a somewhat remarkable fact that this handsome 

 bird, which is by no means uncommon in several British 

 localities, should have retained, since 1784, the name 

 of the aucient town near which it was observed and 

 obtained for the first time in this country in that year. 

 I have no sort of ill feeling towards Sandwich either in 

 its primary or secondary signification, but it strikes me 

 that the word as applied to this bird is nearly as absurd 

 as "Bohemian " Waxwing or 11 Dartford" Warbler. I 

 have seen but very little of this species in our Islands, 

 and have never visited any of its breeding-haunts, but I 

 have met with it frequently in the Mediterranean, and 

 rarely in the Ionian and Adriatic seas. In all its habits, 

 as observed by me, it closely resembles the other Sea- 

 Terns of my acquaintance, but when travelling its flight 



