LARI— LARID^ 293 



also Asin Minor and tliroiigli C. Asia to Mong^olia. Mi.t;rates ; 

 winters tropical Africa, chiefly north and cast ; and S. Asia to 

 China and Malay Archipcla<^o. Of rare occurrence in British Isles. 



Sterna caspia caspia Pallas. Caspian Tkrn. Ger. 

 Raubseeschwalbe ; I fa/. Rondine di mare maggiorc. 



^ 9 summer. Above blue grey, crown and nape black; hind 

 neck and underparts white. Bill massive, coral red, black at 

 tip. Legs and feet black. In winter, crown is white streaked 

 black. Wing 400-439. Tarsus 43-45. liill 62-74 (H.). Young 

 are like winter adults, but upper parts brown spotted, and bill 

 is orange red, dark brown at tip. 



Breeds. — Sylt on Coast of Schleswig, Coasts of Sweden and 

 Finland, Sardinia, E. Coast Adriatic, S. Spain, Tunis Coast, 

 Coasts of r>lack and Caspian Seas, S. Russian salt steppes, and 

 also widely in Asia, Africa and N. America. Of occasional 

 occurrence outside its breeding range in Europe, north to Britain 

 and Faroes. Migrates ; occurs in winter in Africa, S. Asia, 

 and in America south to Mexico. 



Sterna bengalensis par (Mathews). Allied Tern. 

 (" Sterna media " auct.). 



(^ 9 Above clear grey, top of head black, occasionally a 

 thin white line on forehead ; outer tail feathers white ; beneath 

 white. Bill yellow. Legs and toes black, soles yellowish. In 

 winter, top of head is black spotted white, and forehead white. 

 Wing 293-316. Bill 51-57 (FI.)- 



Breeds. — Coasts of Tunis, Syria, and Red Sea Has occurred 

 on Coasts of N. Morocco, S. Spain, Sicily, Egypt, and Coast of 

 E. Africa. 



The typical race " S. b. bengalensis " ranges from Persian 

 Ciulf to Malay Archipelago. 



Sterna maxima albididorsalis Hartcrt. Royal Tern. 



(5 V summer. Above pale grey, long and pointed nuchal 

 feathers and crown black ; beneath white. Bill orange red. 

 Legs and feet blackish, soles orange yellow. In winter, crown 

 white with few black spots, occiput and nape black with white 

 edges. Wing 355-366. Tarsus 31-34. P.ill 62-72. Fork of tail 

 75-85 (H.). 



