TERNS AT THE FARNE ISLANDS. 
69 
and S. hirundo. I cannot say for certain that it breeds on the 
Islands, as it would be simply a matter of chance to snare a 
Roseate Tern at a nest, when there are hundreds of nests 
around, but that it does occur at the Islands regularly I am 
sure ; and although a note was published in the “ Zoologist” 
for November, 1881 (p. 470), throwing doubt upon a previous 
communication (p. 428) affirming the occurrence of this 
species, I can positively state that 8. dougaJli did occur in 
1881—for the best of all reasons, viz., that I have specimens 
in my collection obtained at the Fame Islands in that very 
year. On June 21st, 1883, I distinctly saw three of this 
species amongst the Terns upon the Wide Opens. You can 
easily distinguish them from fluvmtilis and hirundo by their 
more graceful form of flight, as they wheel with almost 
motionless wings, by their keeping at a greater altitude, by 
their white appearance, long tails, and less size, and by their 
note, which somewhat resembles a shrill bark repeated 
rapidly. The beautiful pink blush upon the feathers fades 
considerably with death, and a stuffed specimen if exposed to 
light will nearly lose all trace of it. 
Of 8. cantiacci , the chief breeding place is on the Knoxes, 
where a large colony has bred for many years. Last year a 
few pairs began laying on the Northern Ears, owing, in the 
opinion of the lighthouse keepers, to the colony at the 
Knoxes being disturbed for a few days by a large falcon, 
probably a Peregrine. The Northern Ears, thus selected by 
the birds which forsook their nests at the Knoxes, was 
formerly a regular nesting place of this species. 
It is characteristic of S. cantiacci that it resents inter¬ 
ference, and if much disturbed the birds will forsake their 
eggs and move to a fresh locality in the hope of being left in 
peace. 
Macgillivray, quoting Selby, states that 4 ‘the eggs are 
placed in a shallow hole scratched amongst the Sea Campion 
and other plants that may happen to grow on the selected 
placethis is not exactly according to what I have seen. 
The eggs, usually two, sometimes three, are placed in a slight 
hollow upon fine sand, and upon sand only, not coarse shingle, 
with no sign of vegetation near. In one case on the Northern 
Ears in June last I saw a nest containing four eggs, but in 
my opinion in this instance two birds had laid in the same 
nest. A great difference occurs as regards colour and 
markings on eggs found in the same nest. 
In an exposed situation, such as I have endeavoured to 
describe, they rear their young, feeding them principally upon 
sand eels. The feathers of this species have a beautiful 
