BIRDS OF EGYPT. 299 



deep grey, with a white border on the inner web ; beak 

 yellow ; legs black ; irides dark brown. 



Entire length 16'5 inches ^ culmen 2"3 ; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 13*5 ; tarsus r2. 



Fig. Cretzschm. in Riipp. Atlas, t. 13. 



326. Sterna fluviatilis, Naum. Common Tern. 



This Tern may be occasionally met with in pairs along the 

 Mediterranean coast in the winter and spring, according to 

 Von Heugliu (Syst. Ueb. p. 70). 



Breeding-plumage. — Upper part of the head and nape 

 black; remainder of the head, neck, under smface of the 

 body, and the edges of the carpal band white ; the rest of 

 the plumage pearl-grey, with the first primary partially edged 

 with black ; beak and legs coral-red, the former shaded with 

 black towards the tip ; irides dark brown. 



In winter the head is mottled with white towards the 

 forehead. 



Entire length 15 inches; culmen 1*3 ; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 10 ; tarsus O'S. 



Fig. Sharpe & Dresser, B. of Eur. part vii. 



327. Sterna hirundo, Linn. Arctic Tern. 



The present species is to be met with singly along the 

 Egyptian coast, as stated by Von Heuglin (Syst. Ueb. p. 70). 



Tail in the adult longer than in 8. fluviatilis, and the 

 tarsus always shorter. 



