The Arctic Tern 



THIS is one of the five Terns or Sea 

 Swallows that resort to the British 

 Islands in summer to breed. It is perhaps 

 the most numerous of them all ; next comes 

 the Common Tern, then the Sandwich, 

 followed by the Lesser, and the last and 

 rarest is the Roseate. 



These birds are characterised by their 

 long pointed wings and forked tails, which 

 give them a rough resemblance to the barn 

 swallow. 



The Arctic Tern is easily distinguished 

 from all its relatives excepting the Common 

 Tern, and as they frequently breed together, 

 and are of about the same size and general 

 appearance, you will need to exercise care in 

 properly identifying them. In each case they 

 are black on the crown of the head and nape 

 of the neck, and pearly grey on the back ; but 

 there is this well-marked distinction between 

 them. The bird under notice has its entire 



9 1 



