THE BLACK TEEI^. 



STERNA FlSSIPES. 



Bill black ; feet purple-brown, the membrane short ; head and neck black ; 

 upper parts lead-colour; under parts dark ash-grey; under tail-coverts 

 white ; tail not much forked, shorter than the wings ; irides brown. In 

 winter, the lore, throat, and breast are white. Length ten and a quarter 

 inches. Eggs dark olive-brown, blotched and spotted with black. 



The Black Tern is a common bird in most tem]-)Grate 

 countries which abound in extensive marshes. In its 

 habits it is scarcely less aquatic than the preceding spe- 

 cies, but differs from them all in preferring fresh water 

 to salt. It was formerly of frequent occurrence in 

 England ; but draining and reclaiming have, within the 

 last few years, given over many of its haunts to the Par- 

 tridge and Wood Pigeon ; and it is now but rarely known 

 to breed in this country.* A few, however, are not nn- 

 frequently seen in spring and autumn, when on their way 

 from and to their winter quarters, which are the w^armer 



* The Rev. R. Lubbock states in his " Fauna of Norfolk, 1845," 

 that it has ceased to breed regular! 3' in Norfolk, but that eggs liad 

 been recently obtained at Crowland Wash in Lincolnshire. 



