274 WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



down, and remain motionless until the danger be over. As 

 soon as the young are able to fly, they are led by the old to 

 the sand shoals and ripples where fish are abundant, and 

 occasionally feeding them, they learn by example to pro- 

 vide for themselves. 



While flying, the Tern exhibits uncommon watchfulness ; 

 beating the air with a steady wing, and following the 

 track of the vessel, with an easy flight, the quick eye and 

 moving head may be observed minutely scanning the haunts 

 and motions of their finny prey. At the approach of win- 

 ter they retire south of the limits of the Union. 



The Great Tern is about 15 inches long ; and 30 in alar extent. 

 Jldult plumage ; the bill reddish-yellow, sometimes crimson, tipt with 

 black. Whole upper part of the head black, extending to a point on 

 the nape, and including the eyes. Sides of the neck and whole low- 

 er parts, white. Quills hoary-grey, as if bleached by the weather, long 

 and pointed, a longitudinal stripe of white on the inner edge of each, 

 not extending to the tips. Back, scapulars and wing coverts, bluish- 

 white, or pale lead color. Rump and tail coverts white. Tail white, 

 long and greatly forked, the exterior feathers being 3 inches long- 

 er than the adjoining ones, the rest gradually shorter for an inch and 

 a half to the middle ones ; the outer web of the exterior feather 

 greyish-black. Legs and feet miniate : the webs deeply scalloped. — In 

 ihe female the 2 outer feathers of the tail are shorter than in the male. 



Note. This bird, agreeing Avith the European species, appears 

 distinct from that of Richardson ; in which the tail and its coverts are 

 pearl-grey, the outer feather ivhite exteriorly, and the tarsus 2 lines 

 longer. If this should prove to be a distinct species, which is more 

 than probable, we would distinguish it by the name of Sterna For- 

 STERi, from the eminent naturalist and voyager who first suggested 

 these distinctions. 



