434 ROSEATE TERN. 



the bird was killed, we might collect sufficient information to consider 

 it as distinct from any of the known British species, although many of 

 its characters are very similar to those of Sterna Boysii. To the 

 Sterna hirundo its principal and almost only similarity is that of size, 

 being, if any thing, rather inferior in bulk, but of greater length, by 

 reason of the extraordinary long feathers of the tail." 



The length of the bill is not only rather superior, but is more subu- 

 late or slender, and not so much curved, independent of the difference in 

 colour, as noticed in Doctor M'Dougall's remarks. With respect to the 

 colour of their plumage, they are so essentially different, as to render it 

 scarcely worth comparing ; the upper parts of the Hirundo are much 

 darker, and the under parts destitute of any roseate tinge ; the quills 

 are darker and longer, and have no margin of white near the end ; and 

 the tail is less forked, the feathers not white, but pale cinereous, with 

 the outer feathers black on the exterior web. 



With all the British species of Sterna before us in several of their 

 usual changes, we can have no difficulty in agreeing with Doctor 

 M'Dougall, that his bird is distinct from either of those recorded as 

 British, and, we really believe, is entirely a new species. 



The places of resort of the Roseate Tern are two small flat rocky 

 islands, in the Firth of Clyde, called Cumbrae Islands, chiefly about 

 Milford Bay. On these islands the common tern swarms, so that 

 Doctor M'Dougall and his companions could scarcely step without 

 treading upon the young birds or eggs ; of the latter, two were usually 

 together, but sometimes as many as twenty, which bespeaks a congre- 

 gate incubation. The first of the new species was shot by accident by 

 one of his companions, and happening to fall close to him on the rocks, 

 he was attracted by the beautiful appearance of its breast, and imme- 

 diately pointed out the peculiarity of the species, and requested the 

 gentlemen who accompanied him to shoot others. Two more were 

 procured, and several escaped wounded, for it was easy to perceive the 

 difference between this and the common tern, even on the wing. After 

 having attentively examined the actions of the Roseate Tern, and its 

 appearance when flying, the Doctor computes that there was not above 

 one in two hundred of the common tern, but that they were easily 

 singled out by the sportsmen, amidst thousands of the other species, 

 from the circumstances of its comparative shortness of wing, whiteness 

 of plumage, and by the elegance and comparative slowness of motion ; 

 sweeping along, or resting in the air almost immoveable, like some 

 species of the hawk ; and from the size being considerably less than 

 that of Sterna hirundo. 



