In the Neighbourhood of Salisbury. 



201 



and he himself saw one unmistakable specimen in 1883, while five 

 others were noticed, he informs me, by a Capt. Eyres, who was sure 

 of the peculiar identity of the bird. 



Hydrochelidon Hybrida. "The Whiskered Tern." So called 

 from a white streak running from the base of the upper mandible 

 in a line below the eye to the ear coverts, forming a light whisker 

 or moustache. The breast of this bird is very dark in comparison 

 with the rest of the feathering, by which it may be at once dis- 

 tinguished. It is very rare. Hart has the only specimen he knows 

 of as having occurred in the district, which was killed in the locality 

 by a gunner named Keynes, in 1875. 



Sterna Caspia. " The Caspian Tern." This, also, is a very rare 

 species ; and can be known at once by its superior size to all the 

 other Terns, and by the bright vermillion of its bill. Hart has a 

 fine specimen of this bird in his collection, which was killed by 

 Grantley Berkeley at Muddeford, about the year 1852. It occurs 

 I believe, more frequently on the eastern coast than any other, but 

 is very rarely met with at all. 



Sterna Cantiaca. " The Sandwich Tern." This bird is by no 

 means common on our south coast, but occurs occasionally. Hart 

 writes me word that he has noticed several of these birds about the 

 harbour during the present month. Hart killed a pair of these 

 birds himself on May 14th, 1880, while he has notes of other 

 occurrences of them, one being killed in 1871, another in 1872, 

 whereas in 1873 they were more numerous — three being brought in? 

 on September 15th, one on the 27th, one on the 30th, and two 

 more on October 8th. The black feathers on the head of this 

 bird are rather prolonged, forming almost a kind of pendent crest. 

 The feet, legs, and bill are black, and the tail quite white. 



Sterna Fluviatilis. " The Common Tern," or Sea Swallow, as, 

 from its light and elegant shape, it is appropriately termed. I have 

 noticed it once or twice in the parish, flying and hovering over our 

 river. It occurs more or less frequently all round our coasts, bub 

 there are one or two species so like it, that it may sometimes be 

 mistaken — both the Arctic and the Roseate Tern bearing a close 

 resemblance to it. I had a specimen sent me the other jday which, 



