434 
roseatp: 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 JBoysii. 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 wdth 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. 
