THE SWALLOW-TAILED TERN 233 



Key to the Species. 



The Black-fronted Tern. — Tara. 

 Sterna albistriata. 

 Ash-grey, white over the tail. Top of the head and back of the neck 

 black, margined with white. Tail ash-grey; bill orange; legs red; eye 

 black. Length of the wing, 9.5 in.; of the tarsus, 0.7 in. In the young- 

 the head is white mottled with black, and the bill and feet are yellow. 

 Egg — Yellowish grey, spotted with grey and brown; length, .1.57 in. 

 Formerly very abundant, but getting rare now in the south. It is a most 

 useful bird, and the eggs and nesting places should be protected. 



This beautiful little bird was once seen in large numbers 

 hovering over the newly-ploughed fields in search of larv^ of 

 various insects, and small lizards ; but it is rarely seen now. The 

 cause of its decline in numbers is a mystery. A curious habit 

 of this bird has been recorded. A large flock will rest motionless 

 on the ground, with their delicate bluish-grey wings extended 

 vertically, and they will maintain this singular position for some 

 time. The black-fronted tern deposits its eggs on the bare 

 ground, without any attempt at making a nest. It is very 

 clamorous at breeding season, and, if an intruder approaches 

 the ground, he is assailed with swift dartings, accompanied by 

 noisy, harsh, and grating screams. 



The Swallow- tailed Tern. 



Sterna vittata. 



Pale grey; top of the head black. Tail ]>ure white, very deeply 

 forked. Bill and feet cherry-red. Eye black. Length of the wing, 10.5 

 in.; of the tarsus, 0.7 in. In the winter the top of the head is mottled 

 with grey and black. In the young the bill and feet are reddish black. 

 Campbell, Auckland, and Bounty Islands. Found also at Kerguelen, and 

 the islands of the South Atlantic. 



The swallow-tailed terns are noted for their skill in diving^ 

 and are characterised by great courage. Dr. Kidder has given a 



