STKHNA. BIRDS. 309 



legs small, naked above the knee ; tarsus very short, the three 

 anterior toes connected by a membrane, the hinder detached ; 

 tail more or less forked ; wings very long and pointed. 



The Terns are almost constantly on the wing. In the course of their wheeling 

 flights, they graze the surface of the sea, or pounce down abruptly in pursuit of small 

 fish or insects. Their cry is incessant, shrill, and piercing. They nestle in nume- 

 rous flocks in the same places. 



S. Caspia, Pallas. The Caspian Tern. Forehead and part of the 

 crown white ; occiput black and white ; nape, back,, scapulars, 

 and coverts of the wings bluish cinereous ; quills brown cinere- 

 ous ; lower parts white ; bill thick,, strong, bright red ; height 

 of the tarsus 1 inch 8 lines j tail short, forked. 20 to 21 inches 

 long. Inhabits coasts of the Baltic Sea, &c. Shaw, xiii. 145. 



S. Cantiaca, Gmel. (S. Boysii, Lath.) Sandwich Tern. Back 

 scapulars, and wing-coverts bluish cinereous ; nape, top of the 

 back, and lower parts white ; bill long, black, yellowish at the 

 tip ; feet short and black ; height of the tarsus one inch ; tail 

 long, much forked, shorter than the wings. 15 to 16 inches long. 

 Inhabits Europe, B Don. Brit. Birds, v. pi. 120. 



S. Dougallii, Montagu. Roseate Tern. Top of the head and nape 

 deep black ; back, scapulars, and wings, cinereous ; lower parts 

 white ; bill entirely black ; legs orange-coloured ; tarsus 9 lines 

 long ; the middle toe, including the claw, shorter than the tarsus ; 

 tail much longer than the wings. 15 inches long. Inhabits coasts 

 of Europe. Shaw, xiii. 153. 



S. hirundo, Lin. Common Tern or Sea Swallow. Top of the head 

 and long feathers of the occiput black j back and wings bluish 

 cinereous ; white below ; bill middle-sized, red, with the tip 

 black ; legs red ; length of the tarsus 10 lines ; tail much fork- 

 ed, of the same length as the wings, or even shorter. 14 inches 

 long. Inhabits Europe. B. Shaw, 'xiii. pi. 18. 



S. Arctica, Tern. Arctic Tern. Top of the head and long fea- 

 thers of the occiput deep black ; back and wing-coverts bluish ci- 

 nereous ; a small part of the abdomen, inferior coverts of the 

 tail, and a band below the eyes, white ; bill slender, red, with- 

 out black at the tip ; length of the tarsus six lines ; tail much 

 forked, and sometimes rather exceeding the wings in length. 13 

 to 14 inches long. Inhabits Northern Europe. B Shaw, xiii. 1 52. 



S. Anglica, Mont. Marsh Tern. Top of the head, neck, and lower 

 parts, white ; upper parts bluish cinereous ; bill very short, thick, 

 and quite black ; legs long and black ; length of the tarsus 1 inch 

 and 3 or 4 lines ; tail slightly forked, the wings extending 3 

 inches beyond its extremity ; hinder toe straight. Inhabits Eu- 

 rope. B Tern. Man. 744. 



S. leucopareia, Natterer. Bill and legs lake red ; middle toe with 

 the claw much longer than the tarsus, which is 10 lines long ; tail 

 slightly forked, the wings extending 1^ inch beyond its extremity. 

 11 inches long. Inhabits Southern Europe. -Tern . Man. 746. 



