338 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



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The black tern, which at one time bred on the 

 coasts of our Eastern counties, now only visits 

 us during its migration, and those which do so 

 confine themselves chiefly to our Eastern and 

 Southern shores. The period of its visitation 

 extends from April to October or November. 

 Its plumage in the autumn varies considerably 

 from that of the spring. 



In the latter season the head, neck, breast, and 

 belly are black ; the rest of the plumage slate- 

 coloured ; the bill black ; the legs reddish-brown. 



In the autumn the forehead, throat and nape 

 of the neck are white ; the under parts white 

 barred with gray. Its length is ten inches. 



The white-winged black tern, a peculiarly 

 beautiful bird, has the head, neck, breast, and 

 belly black ; the vent, tail and tail-coverts white ; 

 the legs are scarlet, the bill dark red, the back 

 gray ; the shoulders of the wing white, the rest 

 of the wing of a pearly-gray colour. It measures 

 nine inches and a half in length. This bird is 

 described as an irregular visitor during migration, 

 specimens having been recorded during May, 

 June, October, and November. It has been 

 observed in Norfolk, Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset- 

 shire, Cornwall, Yorkshire, Durham, and also in 

 Warwickshire ; two instances have been recorded 

 of its having visited Ireland. In winter the head, 

 neck, wing-coverts, and under parts are white. 



The Sandwich tern, according to Yarrell so 

 called from Sandwich in Kent, the place where 



