SANDWICH TERN.
Severn! were blown far inland. While driving near Brighton, a couple of miles from the coast, I
nntiei'd .1 single bird trying to make headway ugtilnsl the gusts of wind, which occasionally foreed it
to fall hack: in no other instance have I met with this species at any distance from salt water.
Though several stations where Sandwich Terns reared their young are stated to have cvisted on
various part* of our coasts, the majority appear to have ban deserted of late years. It is only on tho
Fern Islands that I have met with these Terns during lite breed mg-soasnu ; at the time of my last visit,
iu the summer of 1867, there were probably a couple of hundred pairs. The birds then resorted to two
of the smaller islands, where they laid their eggs among the line gravel and shingle. The men who
look after the sea-fowl had surrounded these spots with some large blocks of stone to preserve Hie eggs
from the force of ihe wind, as they are often destroyed by the terrible gales that not uufrequently break
over these rocky islets. One colony was intermixed with Arctic Terns, while Ihe other had selected
a more retired stretch or sand partially sheltered by some largo slabs of rock; in both instances a few
0] stcr-Caichers and Ringed Plovers had taken tip their quarters near at hand. These Terns lay two
eggs iu a small depression in the tine gravel, a few strands of grass occasionally collecting; their cradle
is honoured by some with the litle of a nest. 1 was informed by the egg-gatherers that they usually
change their breeding-places,, seldom laying for two successive seasons on the same island.
The state of plumage exhibited by the adult in autumn is shown in the Plate: about the end of
June the black feathers on the head gradually liccome sp.'ckled with white, which increases as the
season draws on. As to the age of the other bird 1 am unable to offer aa opinion with any degree of
certainty, though it is probably in its second year. This specimen was shot on the 10th of Sepleiulier,
1871, living in au easterly direction in the Firth of Forth, off Canty Day: the adult was also obtained in
the Firth a few days before.