THE ROSEATE TERN ON THE FARNE ISLANDS.
By the Rev. F.L. Blathwayt.
The Roseate Tern (Sterna dougalli) was discovered in July, 1812, on some small islands in the Firth of Clyde, by Dr. McDougall. The species was probably first observed on the Farne Islands not long after this date. Selby, in an article on the Birds of the Fame Islands ('The Zoological Journal,' vol. ii.), stated that the birds were first noticed there about the year 1811 as a new species. The date is apparently not quite correct, but it tends to show that the species was noticed on the Farne Islands very soon after it was discovered in Scotland. In the same article Selby continued:—"They now (1825) having greatly increased, form a numerous colony, which occupies a large space of ground near to that occupied by the Arctic species, and a second station upon one of the Wamseys." From this time they appear to have steadily decreased in numbers on the islands, though it is just as likely that they were driven away by the stronger species as that they were shot down and robbed by visitors.
Hewitson, in his 'British Oology,' edit. i. wrote concerning the Roseate Tern:—"Upon the Farne and Coquet Islands... they are very limited in number, consisting of a few pairs only, mixed and associating with the numerous flocks of Arctic and Sandwich Terns."
The species still inhabited the islands in 1856, for in the 'Proceedings' of the Berwick Naturalists' Club for that year a contributor, who had visited the islands, wrote, referring to Brownsman Island:—"The sea-fowl are here very numerous, especially ... the Sea-swallow or Common Tern; the Sandwich Tern and the Roseate Tern are less abundant." After this the islands seem to have been nearly abandoned by this species, though it is probable that a few pairs nested on them every year. Gould, in his 'Birds of Great Britain' (1862-73), stated that he
