THE ROSEATE TERN 189 



is a late migrant to arrive in Britain in spring, 

 it is equally an early one to depart in autumn, 

 flying south as soon as the young are able to fly. 



The adult male Roseate Tern has the general 

 colour of the upper parts pale slate grey, palest on 

 the rump, upper tail coverts, and secondaries ; the 

 tail, which is deeply forked, is pale grey, the long 

 slender outermost feathers nearly white ; the crown 

 and nape are black ; the cheeks, throat, and entire 

 under surface white, flushed with a delicate rose 

 tint, which, however, fades sooner or later after 

 death. The female resembles the male in colour. 

 The young are barred with black on the upper 

 parts ; the head and nape are brownish black, 

 streaked with white ; the under parts want the 

 rosy flush. This Tern may be recognised by the 

 white inner webs of the primaries. The length is 

 about fourteen inches. 



