THE WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN. T 3 



Family LA RIDsE. Snbfamilj STERNIN&. 



WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN. 



Hydrochelidon /eucoptera, SCIIINZ. 



THE White-winged Black Tern in its summer plumage is a very distinct 

 species, and easily recognized from other Terns ; but in its immature and 

 winter dress it might easily be mistaken for more than one species. It has 

 occurred in the British Islands, chiefly in England. It has been recorded 

 from seven or eight counties, especially those on the southern and eastern coasts, 

 though it has more than once been taken in Northumberland and Yorkshire. It 

 has not yet been recognized in Scotland. It was in Ireland, however, that it was 

 first observed and identified, the specimen having been killed " near the Pigeon- 

 house Fort, Dublin Bay, in October, 1841." 



This species breeds all over Southern and Central Europe, as far north as 

 latitude 55, eastward across Central Asia to (but not further than) China. In 

 winter it migrates southward down throughout Africa, and through Asia across 

 the Malayan Islands to Australasia. It is unknown, except for a couple of 

 accidental occurrences, in the western hemisphere. 



Both the male and the female in breeding plumage have the head, neck, 

 upper back (which are glossy), under side, flanks, under wing-coverts and axillaries 

 all deep black ; the lower back and rump greyish-black ; lesser wing-coverts, vent, 

 upper tail-coverts and tail pure white ; the greater wing-coverts, the secondaries 

 (which are darker) and .the white-shafted primaries (when unworn) pearl grey; 

 the webs of worn primaries black ; the inner webs of the four outer quills with 

 a well marked narrow whitish streak down the centre ; bill dark red ; legs and feet 

 scarlet; toes with much indented webs. Length 9*3 inches; wing 8'2 , tarsus '75, 

 and middle toe with its claw i inch. 



Like the previous species, the White-winged Black Tern is a marsh Tern, and 

 in its habits, food, and mode of nesting, the two are almost identical. The two 

 species often unite in one colony, and make their nests close together in some 

 inland marsh, although our present species may also be found occupying a locality 

 apart from other Terns. Its nest is placed in the very same kind of situation as 

 the Black Tern's, and the eggs of the two, three in number, laid at the end of 



