ARCTIC TERN. 
8 
Lesser Black-backed Gull. — Large numbers breed in colonies on several of the islands. 
IIerring-Gull. — Exceedingly scarce ; but three or four pairs had taken up their quarters this season. 
IviTTiWAKB. — A few pairs were nesting in the cracks and crevices of the Pinnacles, immediately 
below the stations occupied by the Guillemots. 
Since my last visit to this part of the coast, I have met Avith statements, in several ornithological 
Avorks, to the effect that the Common Tern nested on the islands. As this species, hoAvever, escaped 
identification, though the Avhole of the Terns were most carefully Avatched and examined Avith poAverful 
glasses for three successive days, I do not include it in the list of breeding birds that came under my 
observation. 
The colouring of beaks and legs is seldom alluded to in ‘Rough Notes;’ the few particulars, 
lioweA^er, concerning their various changes to Avhich attention is about to be drawn may not be out of 
place, as from repeated obseiwations I ascertained that the tints of the soft parts, especially in young 
birds, commence to fade immediately after death; and it is by no means a certainty to find them 
accurately described or depicted in even the most trustworthy Avorks on natural history. The plumage, 
beak, and legs of an Arctic Tern shot on the 9th of August, 1873, in Yarmouth Roads, may be described 
as folloAvs : — Crown of head black, tbickly speckled with white on forehead ; breast, back, and Avings of 
the usual adult tints, though somewhat faded and worn; a dark line Avas also showing across the 
shoulders of the Avings. Beak very deep claret, almost black ; legs dark broAvn with a shade of red. 
Whether this specimen Avas an adult undergoing the change into Avinter plumage, or exhibiting the last 
stage before arriving at maturity, I am unable to offer an opinion. A young bird shot the same day 
did not shoAv the taAvny orange shade on the breast observed on the juveniles at the Pern Islands in 
June. The base of both mandibles was a pale flesh-tint, the ridge of the upper, and the points of both 
upper and lower, black ; legs and feet a pale yelloAvish flesh-colour, nails black. Another in the same 
stage of plumage, obtained in Shoreham harbour on the 17th of August, 1883, corresponded in every 
particular in the colouring of the soft parts. Several adults and immature birds of this species procured, 
for purposes of examination, along the shore near Lancing, on September 1st, 1882, are referred to in my 
notes; and I find the folloAAung description of the colouring of the beak and legs of one of the juveniles : — 
Ridge of upper mandible and point black; point of lower black, this colour extending halfway up; base 
of both mandibles pale reddish flesh. Legs and toes pale Indian red ; Avebs a darker tint of same colour ; 
nails black. 
