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407. Little Tern. Sterna minuta Linnaeus. 



Sterna minuta. Shelley, p. 300. 



Not uncommon on the sea coasts in autumn and spring, and 

 has been seen apparently nesting on the Faiyum lake in June. 



Length about 9| inches. Forehead ivliite. Crown and nape 

 black. A black line through the lores and eye. Upper parts 

 pearl grey ; lower rump and upper tail coverts white. Entire 

 underparts pure white. Bill yellow with a black tip. Legs and 

 feet orange yellow. Sexes alike, but the outer tail feathers are 

 less elongated in the female. 



Young birds have less black on the head, and the upper 

 parts are mottled with black and brown. 



408. Caspian Tern. Ster^ia caspia Pallas. 



Sterna caspia. Shelley, p. 296. 



Not uncommon, during the autumn migration, on the sea 

 coasts. 



Length about 19 inches. Crown of head black, the black 

 extending below the eyes. Upper parts pearly grey, including 

 the rump and upper tail coverts. Tail pearl grey, with white 

 shafts to the feathers. Underparts white. Bill large, strong and 

 bright red. Legs and feet black. Females slightly smaller than 

 the males. Adults in winter plumage have the crown white 

 streaked with black. 



Young birds are somewhat similar to the adults in winter, 

 but are marked with black on the upper parts. 



409. Middle Tern. Sterna media Horsfeldt. 



Sterna media. Shelley, p. 298. 



Although this tern occurs on the coasts of Egypt, I cannot 

 believe that it was ever " plentiful in Lower Egypt" and resident, 

 as stated by Shelley, though it is possible some may be found 

 nesting on the Red Sea coast. 



Length about 15 inches. Crown and nape black; back, 

 wings and tail pearl grey ; rest of plumage white. Legs and 

 feet black ; bill yellow. 



410. Sandwich Tern. Sterna sandvicensis Latham. 



Sterna cantiaca. Shelley, p. 297. 

 The Sandwich tern occurs along the coast in small numbers 

 during passage. Up^tothe present time we have no positive 

 records of its breeding in Egypt. 



