TERNS, OR SEA-SWALLOWS. (Sterna, Lin.) 



In these birds the bill is as long or longer than the head, almost 

 straight, compressed, subulate and acute at the point ; edges sharp ; 

 upper mandible more or less curved at the tip, never hooked, the 

 lower equal in length with the upper. Nostrils towards the middle 

 of the bill, longitudinal, linear, pervious. Tongue slender, cleft and 

 acute at tip. Feet small, a naked space above the knee . tarsus short- 

 er than the middle toe; toes 4, the 3 anterior united by a sinuated 

 membrane or web ; hind toe and its nail very short, touching the 

 ground merely at tip. JVails small and curved. Wings very long and 

 acuminated, incurved ; 1st primary longest. Tail of 12 feathers, 

 rather long, and generally forked. 



The sexes alike in color ; the female a little smaller. The young 

 differing from the adult during the first or second moult. The 

 moult takes place twice in the year ; in the spring changing the 

 color of the head only : the plumage soft and copious. The colors 

 white, with ashy-blue tints, and some parts black ; or black with 

 some white. The young more or less mottled and varied, with dusky 

 colors, unknown in the adults. 



The Terns, or Swallows of the ocean, usually congregate in 

 flocks, and live almost continually in the vicinity, and on the bor- 

 ders of the sea; some, however, proceed inland, and indifferently 

 inhabit lakes of fresh water, as well as the precincts of the ocean. 

 Their flight is elevated and almost perpetual, sometimes extending 

 so far into the ocean, as to be no indication to the mariner of ap- 

 proaching land. They exercise and pursue their prey by making ex- 

 tensive rounds or circuits, and often also skim over the surface of 

 the water, from whence they snatch the object as it appears ; at oth- 

 er times they are seen to hover over their quarry and dart upon it di- 

 rectly, falling from above with such force as to plunge into the wa- 

 ter, and seldom miss their aim. They are scarcely ever seen upon 

 the water, and never swim from choice : they often however alight 

 upon the beach or sand shoal, or upon rocks and poles. The voice of 

 the Tern is sharp, shrill, and quailing, being often repeated in fine 

 weather, and they are extremely irritable and jealous of any intru- 

 gion on their breeding retreats. They feed mostly on fish, the larger 

 species also attack the eggs and young of water birds ; and some feed 



