626 CASPIAN TERN. 



fish, in the early dawn of July 9th 1S75. On the waters of France, 

 Switzerland and the interior of the Continent it is only known as a 

 straggler, but it breeds on the eastern shores of Spain as well as on 

 some small islands near Sardinia, while generally distributed through- 

 out the Mediterranean ; it also nests by the Black and Caspian 

 Seas, from the latter of which it was first recorded by Pallas. It 

 arrives at the northern limit of its range in spring, departing for 

 the south in autumn ; but is, apparently, a resident on the northern 

 littoral of Africa, and southward along both sides of that continent, 

 as far as Cape Colony. In Asia it can be traced from the Caspian 

 to China, and — crossing the lofty mountain chain on its migrations 

 — it visits India and Burma in winter ; moreover it breeds in the 

 Persian Gulf as well as in Ceylon. It also inhabits Australia and 

 New Zealand ; while in America it is found from Labrador on the 

 east, and the Yukon on the west, down to Mexico. 



The Caspian Tern deposits its eggs in May or June on Ine bare 

 sand, in a slight hollow^ which is occasionally lined with pieces of 

 shell or a few bents ; they are 2-3 in number, and in colour stone-buff, 

 spotted and scrolled witn ash-grey and dark brown : average measure- 

 ments 2-55 by 17 in. The ordinary food consists of fish. The 

 note is a loud, harsh krdke-kra, uttered freely by the bird when its 

 breeding-haunts are invaded. This species is nearly as partial to 

 brackish lakes as to the sea-shore, and when searching for food it 

 has a characteristic habit of keeping its bill pointed downwards, 

 almost at a right angle to its body. 



The adult in summer-plumage has the bill vermilion-red ; crown 

 and nape glossy-black ; neck and under parts pure white ; upper 

 parts pale french-grey, uarker at the tips of the primaries where the 

 frosting is quickly worn off ; tail white with a greyish tinge, and only 

 slightly forked ; legs and feet black. Average length 20 in., wing 

 16 in. ; the male being larger than the fertiale and having a stronger 

 bill. In winter the crown is streaked with black, and there is a dark 

 patch behind the ear-coverts. The young bird has the forehead and 

 crown white; upper surface mottled with ash-brown; quills ash-grey; 

 bill dull red, horn-coloured at the tip. 



