BIRDS OF THE SEA in 



Plumage. Generally much like the next, but the 

 mantle paler grey, and lower parts suffused with rose- 

 colour. Tail long and very forked. Bill black, orange- 

 red at base. Legs and feet orange-red. Length iS^in. 

 Female like male. In winter forehead almost white. 

 Young : crown white, streaked with black ; head and 

 nape greyish black, streaked with white ; blackish grey 

 band on wings, with white edges ; back and wings bluish 

 grey, mottled with greyish black and yellowish white ; 

 throat, collar, and under parts white ; legs and feet 

 yellow. Nestling : buff above, marked with grey and 

 white ; pure white below. 



Language. A harsh " crake," if anything rather more 

 musical than last. 



Habits. Closely resembling the other Terns. 



Food. Fish. 



Nest. June. One brood. 



Site. Same as last, and usually on some isolated 

 and uninhabited island. 



Materials. Same as last. 



Eggs. Two to three. Creamy white, blotched and 

 spotted with dark brown ; indistinguishable from the 

 next two species. 



COMMON TERN (Sterna fluviatilis). 



May to September. Well distributed, being found 

 pretty abundantly all round our coast-lines except 

 towards the north, where its place is taken by its near 

 relative the Arctic Tern. 



Observation. This bird differs from the Arctic Tern by 

 its more slender build, whiter under-parts, and its dark- 

 tipped but otherwise orange-red bill. 



