TERN. NATATORES. STERNA. 473 



ARCTIC TERN. 



STERNA ARCTICA, Temm. 

 PLATE XC. FIG. 2. 



Sterna arctica, Temm. Man. d'Orn. 2. 742 Selby in Zool. Jour. 2. 461. 



Sttph. Shaw's Zool. 13. 152 Sabine in Frank. Jour. App. 694. 

 Hirondelle-de-Mer Arctique, Temm. Man. 2. 742. 

 Arctic Tern, Selby in Zool. Jour. 2. 461 Lath. Gen. Hist. 10. 116 



Shaw's Zool. 13. 152. 



THIS bird, which was first described and confirmed as a Periodical 



. . visitant, 



distinct species by M. TEMMIXCK, has long been a summer 



visitant to the coasts of the north of England and Scotland. 

 Here it is met with in greater numbers than even the Ro- 

 seate and Sandwich Terns, but until the distinguishing cha- 

 racters which separate it from the common species (of which 

 Dr FLEMING still seems to consider it as only a variety) 

 were pointed out, it had always, as the prevailing species in 

 the parts it frequents, been mistaken for that bird ; which 

 latter, as I have previously noticed, is comparatively of rare 

 occurrence on the north-eastern coast of the kingdom. Upon 

 close examination and comparison of their characteristics, as 

 great a distinction will be found to exist between the bird 

 now before us and Sterna Hirundo, as between the latter 

 and Sterna Dougallil ; which last is generally admitted to 

 be a separate species. The bill is different in form, being 

 shorter, and with the upper mandible more arched through- 

 out its length ; its colour is also of a deeper coral red, and, 

 when some few exceptions occur to its being entirely of that 

 colour, it is the extreme tip alone that is darker. Again, 

 the tarsi of Sterna arctica are nearly two-eighths of an inch 

 shorter than those of S. Hirundo, a fact of itself sufficient 

 to establish its rank as a species. It also differs materially 

 in the colour of its plumage ; the whole of the breast, neck, 

 and under parts being of as deep a grey as the back and 



