30 DESCRIPTIONS OF OUR NATIVE BIRDS. 



MARSH TERN. 

 (Hydrochelidon fluviatilis)— ^/o*</r/\s Hand Book. 

 (Hydrochelidon hyhrida,)— Mathews' Hand List. 



I Caspian Tern {Hydroprognc caspia). 

 Crested Tern, or Bass Straits Tern {Sterna bergii). 

 , AVhite-fronted OR SouTHER^i Teb.^ {Sterna frunialis). 

 SOUTH AUSTRALIA. LiTTLE Tern {Sterna nereis). 



{ Long-legged Tern {Gelochelidon anglica). 



Size. — -The body is about the size of that of a dove, but the long tail, together with 

 the long pointed wings, make it look much larger. From beak to the 

 tip of the tail it is about lOin. to 12in. in length. 



Bill. — Its bill is blood red in color. 



Legs and Feet. — The legs and feet are also colored blood red. 



Plumage. — ^The forehead, top, and back of the head are black. The back, wings, 

 and chest are a light slaty grey. The sides of the head, chin, and throat 

 whitish. Under the wings and tail the feathers are white. The wings 

 are long, curved, and pointed, and admirably adapted for swift flying. 



Habitat. — Freshwater lakes, lagoons, swamps, and marshes. It is mostly seen 

 flying or hawking over the water, after the manner of the seagull. 



Food. — Aquatic insects, tadpoles, frogs, and small fish. 



Nest. — The nest is built of stalks of aquatic herbage, with a submerged foundation, 

 and fringed about with growing grass (couch) in a lagoon or swamp. 

 " Dimensions over all, including foundation under water, 18in. in depth, 

 diameter of base at waterline 16in. to 18in., diameter of the top, which 

 is slightly concave, 8in." — Campbell. Nidification takes place from 

 October to December. 



Eggs. — The eggs usually number two, although it is no uncommon sight to see 

 three in a nest. They are of a greyish-green color, strongly spotted with 

 dark brown and dull grev. The average size is about liin. x 1 iViu. 



