896 



LARID.E. 



NAT AT ORES. 



LARIDIE. 



THE COMMON TERN. 



Sterna liiruiidci. Common Tern, 





Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. ii. p. 196. 



Mont. Ornitli. Diet. 



Bewick, Brit. Birds, vol. ii. p. 207. 



Flem. Brit. An. p. 143. 



Selby, Brit. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 468. 



Jenyns, Brit. Vert, p. 266. 

 ,1 ,, ,, ,, Gould, Birds of Europe, pt. xviii. 



,, ,, Hirondelle de mer pierre garin, Temm. Man. d'Omitli. vol. ii. p. 740. 



This species was long considered more common than it 

 really is, close examination having proved that two other dis- 

 tinct species of Terns very frequently occupy the same sta- 

 tions with it or localities very close to it, all of which were 

 for a time confounded under the name of Common Tern : 

 the great similarity in their habits, and the general resem- 

 blance in the birds while on the win"- at a distance favourinsr 

 the supposition. 



