THE WHISKERED TERN. *s 



webs. Immature birds have always the white rump, which in H. nigra shows grey 

 continuously from the back to the tail. The full summer plumaged bird on the 

 wing can scarcely be mistaken for any other species ; its white wings are a 

 sufficiently conspicuous mark on the upper surface, while seen from beneath the 

 black under wing-coverts distinguish it from the Black Tern, whose under wing- 

 coverts are grey. 



Family LARID&. Subfamily S TERMING. 



WHISKERED TERN. 



Hydrochelidon liybrida, PALL. 



THIS Tern, which derives its name from the line of white which runs from 

 the base of the upper mandible below the eye to the ear-coverts, is a very 

 rare visitor to our shores. It has been seen or taken only a few times, more 

 often in the south-western than in the other counties of England. A specimen 

 shot in 1836, in Dorsetshire, was the first British record; four or five other 

 occurrences complete the tale of English specimens. It has been taken, though 

 very rarely, both in Scotland and in Ireland. 



The Whiskered Tern is found in summer across the whole of Europe and of 

 Asia (except Formosa) below 55 N. latitude. In winter it migrates through the 

 Malay Archipelago into Australia as far as 35 S. latitude, and throughout Africa 

 to the Cape of Good Hope. As it has been recorded from the Orange Free State 

 in full breeding dress in December, flying over reed-pans, it may be presumed 

 that some individuals remain resident in South Africa, naturally assuming the 

 breeding dress in the summer of their latitude. 



As seen on the wing the upper parts are slate-grey, the under side white, 

 and the nape black. The adult male and female are alike, except that the latter 

 is slightly paler. In breeding garb they have the crown of the head, nape of the 



