ROSEATE TERN. 
23 
breeding from 82° N. lat. (or higher ? ) down to about 50° N. 
in Europe and 42° in America. In winter southwards to the 
coasts and waters of Peru, Chili, Brazil, Africa, and even to 
66° S. lat. in the Southern Ocean.” 
Habita. — In its mode of life the present species differs but 
little from the Common Tern. It is very bold when its nests 
are in danger, and not only drives off Gulls and Skuas, but will 
also swoop at any man who approaches the vicinity of its nest. 
The young birds assemble in flocks after the nesting season, 
and Mr. E. W. Nelson says that in Alaska, towards the middle 
of August, they are very common on the marshes, and follow 
an intruder about from place to place, uttering an odd, squeaky 
imitation of the notes of the adult birds. They heedlessly 
hover close over head, and the expression of innocent wonder 
in their soft black eyes makes them amusing little creatures to 
watch. 
Nest. — A hollow in the sand without linings ; but when 
naarshy ground is selected Mr. Nelson says that the nest is 
lined with a few grass stems. Sometimes the eggs are laid on 
the bare rock just beyond the reach of the waves. 
E^gs. — Two or three in number, the former being the usual 
complement, according to my correspondent, Mr. Robert 
Read. They are rather smaller than those of the Common 
Tern, and present more variations in colour. While many have 
f spots and blotches of a similar aspect to that 
° c eggs of Sterna fluviatilis, there is, in a general sense, a 
dian^^*^ ^ I'liore spotted appearance. Axis, i‘4-i’7 inch: 
HI. THE ROSEATE TERN. STERNA DOUGALLI. 
Sterna dougalU, Mont. Orn, Diet. Suppl. (1813) ; Dresser, B. 
Eur. vm. p. 273, pi. 581 (1876) ; B. O. U. List Brit. B. 
/'oo \ j Saunders, ed. Yarrell’s Brit. B. iii. p. 544 
(1884); Seebohm, Hist. Brit. B. iii. p. 277 (1885); 
Saunders, Man. Brit. B. p. 629 (1889); Lilford, Col. Fig. 
Brit. B. part xxviii. (1894) ; Saunders, Cat. B. Brit. Mus, 
XXV. p, 70 (1896). 
