7

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STERNA PARADISBA, fae
Roseate Tern.

Sterna paradisea, Briinn. Orn. Bor., p. 46.

—— Dougall, Mont. Orn. Dict., Suppl.

—— Macdougalh, Macgill. Man. Brit. Orn., vol. ii. py 233)
Thalassea Dougalli, Kaup, Natiirl. Syst., p. 97.
Hydrocecropis Dougalli, Boie, Isis, 1844, p. 179.

 

Wipespreap indeed are the Terns or Sea-Swallows ; for the sandy shores of every country are frequented by
them. In many instances the species are strictly local—so much so as to be confined to-a single group of
islands ; while others are very widely spread, some inhabiting not only the higher regions of both hemispheres
but dwelling in more temperate zones.

Of all the family, numerous as are its members, the Roseate Tern is probably the most elegant in form and
beautiful in colouring that has yet been discovered ; and it was doubtless these peculiar features in the bird
which procured it the name of paradisea. If we examine its structure, we find that its bill is more slender
than that of most of its allies, and that the rich orange-colour of its feet offers a strong contrast to the hue
of its breast, which has obtained for it the trivial name of “ roseate.”

Although nowhere very numerous, this species appears to enjoy an unusually wide range; for it
is said to frequent the whole of the sea-shores of Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope to the
Mediterranean ; and we know that it is also found on all those of Northern Europe. In America
Prof. Baird states, in his list of the birds of that country, that it extends from Florida to New York ;
and it occasionally occurs in India. Formerly there was scarcely a large sand-spit or rocky promontory
in the British Islands suited for the reproduction of the Sternine that had not its little colony of Roseate
Terns. The Scilly, Lundy, Walney, and Fern Islands, the Firth of Clyde, and most of the islands of
the Irish coast were but the other day constantly and annually resorted to for this purpose. Now
it is to be feared that they have either been killed off from many of these hitherto favourite localities, or
have deserted them for others where they are less subject to molestation. I have reason to believe, how-
ever, that a few pairs still resort to breed on Scilly and the Fern Islands, and many more to some parts of
the Irish coast ; and if allowed to remain undisturbed, they would doubtless continue their visits and increase
their numbers. Ifwe wish to preserve this interesting species as a member of our avifauna, we must cease
to destroy it, and seek a supply for our museums and private collections from more distant countries where
the bird is not held in such estimation. The Roseate Tern must be regarded as a southern species ; for it
seems not to breed so far north as the Arctic or Common Terns; and in all probability the British Islands are
nearly its limit in this direction. It is a question not easily answered, Where do the vast hordes of Terns go
during the winter (I mean the Roseate, the Common, the Arctic, and Little Terns) ?—for we seldom meet
with any of them during that inclement season. That they have migrated ina southerly direction is almost
certain ; and as they are seldom found out of soundings, the probability is that they then resort to the
coasts, the estuaries, and embouchures of the great tidal rivers of Africa and America, and there, like the
Land-Swallows, await the return of the sun before again visiting their breeding-places in the north, which
they do with the utmost regularity ; for as certain as the month of May EOS Foun these birds reappear
to enliven the beach and the great shingle-beds of our sea-shores with their elegant movements and
thousand voices. The present species, like all the other Terns, Is eibyEee to : seasonal py in Hn

1 oie te lie eras SAT “1 OF .
colouring of the head; but I am unable to say whether the roseate tint of the breast is worn during the

nuptial season alone, or is retained throughout the year. In all probability, when the a oe
$ 1ouale >of} » P > PrTOS . & » ¥ IS

white in lieu of black, as represented in my Plate, the breast is also destitute of the rosy blush: one thing is
certain, it is very evanescent after death. ee | nee: )
As many of my contemporaries have written the history of this bird, and I have hac . i oppor-

i ‘ir writings as sar to me to be of interest ;

self, I shall give such extracts from their writings as appeal te :

tunity of seeing it my a
. i: Mr. Thompson, and an additional note kindly sent to me

particularly from the ‘ Birds of Ireland,’ by the late + Mics Jw BE HacGae
. _ ie ear , 7 »CeYX Wits Jd: ie EGE 2,

by that careful observer of nature, the author of the ‘ Birds of Middlesex, Mr i or
. eae ade k r ] ag c c :

Whe oceucrence of this. elezant Tern in Britain was first made known by ! So oe : €

: ACS So sinadie Xt +, In July 1812, or
Dougallii in honour of Dr. Macdougall of Glasgow, who obtained an example; in duly 1 ce
Us ae = : ‘ford Bay, in the Firth of Forth; and as Séerna
the Cumbrays, two small flat rocky islands in Milford bay, eo hed stant
S, s ) a 2e sscribec

: : : oe sdern research has shown that 1¢ had been desc
Dougallii the bird is very generally known ; but modern rese

2 . : : “oO » »sionated. “It Was dis-
by Briinnich, in 1764, as S. paradisea, by which name it must in unre ee
y ’ ? : ‘ :