CASPIAN TERN. 



383 



NAT AT ORES. 



LAUIDIE. 



THE CASPIAN TERN. 



Sterna caspia, Caspian Tern, Selby, Brit. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 463, 

 >• >> I) y, Jenyns, Brit. Vert. p. 264. 



>» >> >> I, Eyton, Rare Brit. Birds, p. 66. 



>» >• >> 5» Gould, Birds of Europe, pt. xviii, 



„ ,, Hirondelle-de mer Tschegrava, Temm. IMan.d'Ornith. vol. ii. p. 733, 



Sterna, Generic Character.— BiU as long, or longer than the head; 

 nearly straight, compressed, slender, tapering, with tlie edges sharp, and the 

 end pointed ; the mandibles of equal length, the upper one slightly curved to- 

 wards the point. Nostrils near the middle of the beak, pierced longitudinally, 

 pervious. Legs slender, naked for a short space above the tarsal joint ; tarsi 

 short ; toes four, the three in front united by intervening membranes deeply 

 concave in front, or semi-palmated ; the hind toe free ; claws small, curved. 

 Wings long, pointed, the first quill-feather the longest. Tail forked in various 

 degrees. 



To tliis family, tlie Luridce, the last among British Birds, 



VOL. III. 2 c 



