196 



British Binis. 



THE 

 COMMON TERN. 

 (Sterna fliivi(Uilis ) 



The members of the genus Stcnni all have a very slender 

 and pointed bill, and a Umg and forked tail. The tarsus is 

 short, and is less than the length of the middle toe and claw. 

 The Common Tern is of a pearl-grey colour above, white under- 

 neath, with a black cap; the bill is coral-red, tipped with black. In wmter the head 

 is white with the hmder crown more or less black. Young birds may be told by a 

 dark grey band along the wing-coverts : otherwise they resemble the winter plumage 

 of the adults. The species breeds as far north as the Isle of Skye on the west, and 

 the Moray Firth on the east of Scotland, its place being taken to the northward by 

 the Arctic Tern, It is also found nesting on the islands off most ot the coasts of 

 Ireland as well as on inland lakes in many of the counties. It nests in most parts 



The ARtTic Tern. 



The Common Tekn. 



of Europe, both on the coast and on inland lakes, and is also found through Central 

 Asia to Cashmere and Thibet, It also breeds throughout temperate North America 

 as far south as Te.xas, In winter it is found in Brazil and on the coasts ot Africa 

 and India. 



The food of this species consists principally of small hsh, tor which it hunts in 

 company, continually dipping into the water with a graceful flight, which has gained 

 for the birds the name of ' Sea-Swallows.' They also nest in company on the shingle, 

 making a depression in the sand. The eggs are three in number, rarely four, varying 

 from stone-colour to ochreous-buff or rufous brown, with black spots and markings, 

 more or less distinct according to the light or dark colour of the egg ; the length is 

 an inch-and-a-half to an inch-and-three-quarters. 



