and discordant. I think that pretty much the same
remarks apply generally to all of the British Sea-Terns.
I observe that the editor of the 4th edition of ' Yarrell'
mentions that the Caspian Tern has a characteristic
habit of keeping its bill pointed downwards when
searching for food. I can corroborate this from my
own experience, but I have very frequently noticed
the same habit in other species. From the authority just
referred to, I glean that this bird may be roughly said
to range over nearly the whole of Europe, a considerable
region of Asia, the entire coast of Africa, and the east
and west coasts of N. America from Labrador and the
Bering Sea to Florida and North Mexico. It is also
found in Australia and New Zealand. In Europe it
breeds in Sweden, Denmark, and certain localities in
the Mediterranean; but in my somewhat extensive
experience of that sea I never had the good fortune to
meet with its nest or eggs. In Spain it is certainly an
uncommon bird, although I have reason to believe that
it occasionally breeds upon the Balearic Islands.