306 
A GROUP OF TERNS. 
pelago, some otlier parts of tlie Mediterranean, the Baltic, 
flolland, France, Switzerland, as well as to be found at 
Senegal, and the Cape of Good HopOe 
Euppell's Tern (Sterna Velox), 
Sandwich Tern {S. Cantiacd), 
Common Tern {S. Ilirundo). 
Arctic Tern (S. Arcticd). 
Roseate Tern {S. Dougallii), 
Little Tern (aS'. Minutd), 
We have here a list of the British members of the genus 
Sterna^ which includes what may be called the true Terns, 
the typical birds of the family. Of the first of these we 
need only say that it is very rare indeed; but a single speci- 
men having been taken in this country, as recorded in the 
Annals of Natural History for Sept. 1847. It is as large 
a bird as the Caspian species, and is coloured much like the 
common Tern. 
The second of the above species, named after a town in Kent, 
on whose sandy flats it was first observed in -1784, measures 
about thirteen inches in length. The upper part of the 
head and nape are deep black, the back and wings ash 
gi'ey ; the rest of the plumage white, with a rosy tinge on 
the under parts, which is brightest in simimer. The bill 
of this bird is rather longer than the head, black, with the 
points yellowish ; the wings extend a little beyond the 
deeply-forked tail : it is a regular summer visitant with 
us, appearing in spring, and departing in autumn, after 
having reared the yearly brood. It breeds in the shingly 
banlis about Romne}^ Marsh, Kent ; the eggs have been 
taken at the mouth of the BlackAvater river, in Essex, and 
it is not uncommon on the coasts of Noi-folk and Suffolk. 
Mr. Selby has particularly noticed its annual visits to 
the Faroe islands, and says : — * 
Here a station is selected apart from other species, generally on a 
higher site, and the nests are so close to each other as to render it 
difficult to cross the ground without breaking the eggs, or injuring 
the unfledged young. Upon this coast it is called, ^ar excellence, 
* the Tern,' all the other species passing under the general name of 
*Sea Swallows.' The eggs of this bird are three or four in number, 
