LARIDAE—TERNS.
261
Scopoli's Sooty Tern : Sterna anaestheta.
A very rare straggler.
The first and only specimen met with in Britain was obtained in Sept., 1875,
on one of the lightships at the Nore, and may, therefore, fairly be claimed as an
Essex bird. All that is known about the specimen is given by Mr. Howard
Saunders, who recorded it in the Zoologist (40. i. 213). Although the circum-
stances connected with its capture are not very conclusive, Mr. Saunders says
that " there does not seem to be the slightest ground for doubting that the speci-
men in question really was obtained somewhere at the mouth of the Thames." It
seems that the bird was brought in the flesh to a naturalist named Barton, resid-
ing near the West India Docks, by one of the Trinity House men, who had just
returned from duty on board the lightship, but who has since been lost sight of.
The bird is adult.
Black Tern : Hydrochelidon nigra.
Now only an uncommon passing migrant in spring and autumn,
though formerly a resident, breeding in the county. It appears pro-
bable from the
following evidence
that it bred in Es-
sex up to about
fifty years ago, but
drainage and cul-
tivation have now
quite banished it,
though specimens
still occur quite
unaccountably
with us, even dur-
ing the breeding
season.
In the Walden
Museum there used
formerly to be a specimen in summer plumage, shot at Widdington on May 3rd,
1853 (24). Mr. Clarke mentions (24) one shot at Audley End (and in the Col-
lection there) on May 24th, 1836, when it seems likely that it was breeding near.
It had a very black head and neck, with the body, wings and tail of a dark slate-
colour. Another was shot at Newport about 1854. One, in black and white im-
mature plumage, was shot on the Essex coast early in Sept., 1879 (Bree 29. Sept.
20). King, in 1838, wrote (20) of this species and the Common Tern :—
" These elegant birds are not unfrequently seen during summer, gracefully
flitting over the bed of our river and following its windings. Of S. nigra I have
not heen able to obtain a single specimen in adult plumage, but have had several
of the young birds brought me."
One, in the British Museum, was shot on the Thames. At Harwich, " some
are seen every year " (Kerry). Mr. Hope informs me that in August, 1888, he
obtained a young bird only just able to fly, near Harwich. On August 12th,
1881, six were shot on Canvey Island, and five more were seen there on May 19th,