38o BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



Soot^ Zcm. 



^v Di//yc^^ 



The Sooty Tern {Sterna fidigiiwsa^ Gmelin) is a very rare 

 straggling autumn migrant to the British Islands, and is 

 found inhabiting the Oceanic tropical zone. The adult has 

 the crown, lores, and nape, black; forehead and sides of the 

 neck, white ; back, scapulars, wings, and remainder of upper 

 plumage, mostly black; outer webs of the two elongated 

 outer rectrices, white; under parts, white ; irides, hazel ; 

 bill, legs, and feet, blackish. Length, about sixteen inches. 

 The young are darker on the upper parts, with lightish tips 

 to most of the feathers ; under parts, brownish. 



