Birds of Britain 



including the tail, pearl grey ; head and nape dense velvety- 

 black ; primaries blackish. Under parts pure white ; bill 

 and legs black. In winter the head is white streaked with 

 black. Length 15-5 in. ; wing 13 in. 



THE CASPIAN TERN 



sterna caspia, Pallas 



This large Tern is, like the preceding, only a rare 

 straggler to our shores. It nests in Denmark and various 

 islands on the Baltic, as well as in the Mediterranean basin 

 eastwards to the Aralo-Caspian area. 



Plumage much as in preceding species, but the tail 

 nearly white. Bill vermilion red ; legs black. Length 20 

 in. ; wing 16 in. 



THE SANDWICH TERN 



Sterna cantiaca, J. F. Qmelin 



This species arrives on our coasts about the middle of 

 April and at once repairs to its breeding - stations. In 

 England these are very few in number and mostly in the 

 north, but occurring equally on the east and west coasts. 

 In Scotland the colonies are rather more numerous, while 

 Ireland can only boast of one in the north. 



It nests on the bare shingle, the nests being usually 

 placed quite close to each other. Two or three eggs of a 

 pale stone colour, spotted and blotched with reddish brown 

 and black, form the clutch. 



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