ARCTIC TERN. 659 



one sitting on the sands at Redcar, though the latest record 

 is 2nd December 1905, when an immature example was 

 obtained at the Teesmouth. At Flamborough and Spur: , 

 according to the late J. Cordeaux, it is the most numerous 

 of the Terns, but on the Cleveland coast, although very 

 abundant in some years, yet in others, one of which was 1885, 

 without any apparent reason, it is remarkably scarce. (See 

 Common Tern.) 



Inland it is very rare, but is recorded from Barnsley, 

 Wakefield, Gormire, Knaresborough, Fewston, Bluberhouse 

 moor (where one in first plumage was noted by Lord 

 Walsingham on 7th September 1883), and at several other 

 places. 



An uncommon and interesting state of plumage is that 

 of the second year, which was formerly attributed to a 

 separate species known as 5. portlandica (Ridgway). An 

 example in this condition was procured at Spurn in July 1884, 

 and sent by Mr. W. Eagle Clarke to Mr. Howard Saunders, who 

 states that it is evidently a bird hatched in the summer of 

 1883. The forehead is white, the crown streaked with black, 

 and the nape almost entirely black. The upper parts are grey 

 as in the adult, except for a dark mottled line, indicative of 

 immaturity, along the lesser wing coverts, and the darker 

 tints of the tail feathers, especially on the outer webs ; the 

 entire under parts are white. In their dried condition the bill, 

 legs, and feet are nearly black (the webs of the latter livid.)* 

 Mr. Saunders remarks that he has only seen five or six specimens 

 of this intermediate phase of plumage {Nat. 1887, p. 353). 



The only vernacular name is that used generally for the 

 family, viz.. Sea Swallow. 



* I had two specimens in this stage in 1901, and in their fresh con- 

 dition the bills were red, legs and feet light orange red. 



