26 
Allen’s naturalist’s library. 
Kanse Outside the British Islands. — The Ro.seate Tern is a 
maritime species, and is found on most of the coasts of the 
temperate and tropical portions of the Old and New Worlds. 
In niany of its southern liabitats it is only known as a winter 
visitor, but it also breeds in several of its tropical resorts, 
such, for instance, being Ceylon, the Andaman Islands, Nevv 
Caledonia, and the West Indies. It does not range north 
of 57° N. lat., being, as Mr. Saunders remarks, ““merely 
a straggler to the coasts of the North Sea. It has several 
colonies on the west side of France, and a few c.xamples have 
been obtained in the Mediterranean ; while we trace it to the 
Azores and across the Atlantic — by way of the Bermudas to 
America. There it is found breeding along the east coast 
from New England to Honduras, and throughout the West 
Indies, though it has not yet been obtained on the Pacific 
sea board.” In winter it visits South Africa, the Indian and 
Australian oceans, and breeds in Northern Australia. Speci- 
mens from southern localities are often found in full breeding 
pluinage, and we may c.xpect that more nesting-places of the 
species will yet be discovered. 
Habits. — The Roseate Tern is so called on account of the 
beautiful ro.sy blush which is seen over the white under parts, 
a feature which, unfortunately, disappears gradually in preserved 
specimens, though traces may still be seen in skins which have 
been in cabinets for years. There is little to say about its 
habits, which are like those of other Terns, except that it is 
more e.Kclusively a maritime species than the Arctic or Common 
Terns. Its note is said to be a somewhat harsh “ crake.” 
Nest.— As with other Tern.s, there is generally no real nest a 
slight hollow in the sand being made for the reception of the 
eggs, though occasionally a few bits of dried grass form the 
scanty lining. 
Eggs.— Mr. Proud tells me that the eggs are invariably two in 
number. Seebohm says two or three are found, and Mr. 
Howard Saunders records instances of four being met with' 
probably the produce of two females. In general colour the 
eggs of the Roseate Tern resemble those of the Common Tern 
but they are somewhat more elongated, and the markiners 
are smaller and more scattered, the grey underlying markings 
