472 NAT A TORES. STERNA. TERN. 



PLATE 89. Fig. 1. represents the Adult bird in summer 



plumage. 



General Bill, from the forehead to the tip, one inch and a half 

 lion**" long ; the upper mandible gently arched ; and both the 



Adult mandibles more slender than in the Common and Arctic 



species. Forehead, crown, and long feathers of the oc- 

 ciput, intense black. Line from the base of the upper 

 mandible, cheeks, neck, and the whole of the under 

 plumage, of a glossy white, deeply tinged with rosy red 

 (which fades in museum specimens when exposed to the 

 light). Back and wing coverts pale pearl-grey. Outer 

 web of the first quill-feather black ; of the rest, hoary 

 grey ; inner web of the whole having a streak of hoary 

 grey next the shaft, and the other part pure white. 

 Tail pure white ; with the outer feather on each side 

 much produced, and reaching from two and a half to 

 three inches beyond the tips of the wings. Legs and 

 toes bright red; the tarsi six-eighths and a half of an 

 inch in length ; membranes much scalloped ; claws 

 black. 



Young. Fig. 2. is the Young of the year, immediately previous to 

 its departure in autumn. 



Bill brownish-black, with the base orange-yellow. Fore- 

 head and crown cream-yellow, tinged with grey. Region 

 of the eyes, ear-coverts, and nape of the neck, greyish- 

 black, mixed with yellowish- white. Throat, sides of the 

 neck, and under parts, white. Ridge of wing blackish- 

 grey, with the edges of the feathers paler. Back and 

 wing-coverts bluish-grey, marbled with greyish-black 

 and yellowish-white. Tail having the outer webs of the 

 feathers grey ; the inner, and tips, white. Quills grey, 

 margined with white. Legs pale gallstone-yellow. 



The winter plumage of this species has not yet been ascer- 

 tained. 



