LARlDiE. 369 



Genus STERNA, Linnaeus. 

 Bill more or less long, strong, with the culmen slightly- 

 curved to the tip, which is acute ; the gonys straight, and 

 half the length of the bill ; the nostrils lateral, placed 

 towards the middle of the bill', and longitudinal, with the 

 frontal plumes advancing close to or near the opening j 

 wings very long and pointed, with the first quill the 

 longest ; tail more or less long, and generally forked ; tarsi 

 more or less long and slender ; toes moderate, the two outer 

 ones nearly equal, and the three anterior ones united by an 

 indented web ; the hind toe very short ; the cla,ws moderate, 

 slightly curved, and acute. 



684. Sterna Caspia, Pallas ; Temm., Man. II, p 

 733 ; Sterna Melanotis, Swain. ; Sylochelidon Caspia, 

 Brehm ; The Caspian Tern. 



Above, throughout, pale pearl-grey; quill-feathers of wings 

 darkest ; beneath pure white ; head of male in full plumage, 

 at the top, from the base of the bill, including the eye, and 

 down the back of the neck, pure black ; in the female, this 

 portion is only profusely speckled with black ; bill fine 

 scarlet ; points horn-coloured ; legs black. Length, 21" ; 

 wing, 17"; tail to the centre, 5", forked. 



This noble Tern is not uncommon on our shores ; but is, I think, a 

 periodical visitant, appearing chiefly in the summer ; though my son 

 tells me he observed a pair during the day of the great gale. May 17th, 

 1865. It feeds on fish, and plunges from a considerable height, com- 

 pletely submerging itself. It is a solitary species, never appearing in 

 flocks. 



685. Sterna DoUgalli, Temm. ; McGillivray, Brit. 

 Birds, Vol. 5, p. 648 ; S. Douglasii, Mont, ; Sterna 

 Paradisea, Keyser. 



Head above, and upper part of hind neck, deep-black, tinged 

 with greenish-blue ; hind neck and sides of head, white ; 

 fore neck, and all the lower parts, roseate, fading into white ; 

 upper parts, pale bluish-grey ; hind part of back and tail, 

 lighter, almost pure white ; the edge of the wings, the tips 

 and inner edges of the quills white, as are their shafts ; the 

 outer three primaries greyish-black, with the inner margin 

 white ; tail long, deeply forked. Length, 15" ; wing, 9J" ; 

 tail, 7|".— (Mc(;lillivray.) 



The Common Tern of Table Bay and the adjoining coast has been 

 identified by Dr. Hartlaulb as " McDougal's " or " The Roseate Tern." 

 I confess I am sceptical on this point, and am inclined to think it 



