CASPIAN TERN. 



497 



NATATORE8. 



LAB ID 31. 



THE CASPIAN TERN. 



Sterna caspia. 



Sterna caspia, Caspian Tern, SELBY, Brit. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 463. 



JENYNS, Brit. Vert. p. 264. 



EYTON, Rarer Brit. Birds, p. 66. 



GOULD, Birds of Europe. 



Hirondelle-de-mer Tsche- TEMM. Man. d'Ornith. vol. ii. p. 733. 



grava, 



STEKNA. Generic Characters. Bill as long, or longer, than the head ; 

 nearly straight, compressed, slender, tapering, with the edges sharp, and 

 the end pointed ; the mandibles of equal length, the upper one slightly 

 curved towards the point. Nostrils near the middle of the beak, pierced 

 longitudinally, pervious. Legs slender, naked for a short space above the 

 tarsal joint ; tarsi short ; toes four, the three in front united by inter- 

 vening membranes deeply concave in front, or semi-palmated ; the hind 

 toe free ; claws small, curved. Wings long, pointed, the first quill-feather 

 the longest. Tail forked in various degrees. 



VOL. III. K K 



