TERN. NATATORES. STERNA. 481 



of the interior to the open sea, and feeding on insects rather Food. 

 than on fish. On the European continent, it is abundant in 

 Hungary (where it frequents the marshes, and the Lakes 

 Neusidel and Flatten), and on the confines of Turkey. Upon 

 investigating specimens from North America, I feel no hesi- 

 tation in considering the Marsh Tern of WILSON'S North 

 American Ornithology to be the same bird, although Mr 

 OIID (in the eighth volume of that work), is inclined to re- 

 gard it as distinct, in consequence of some difference between 

 the length of the bill and tarsi, as expressed in a drawing of 

 the Sterna Aranea that he examined, and the proportions of 

 those parts in the first species, as given by MONTAGU and 

 TEMMINCK. Tn this Tern the bill is thicker and stronger 

 than in all the preceding ones, and the angle at the sympha- 

 sis of the lower mandible more prominent, the tarsi are also 

 longer ; in all which particulars it shews a striking approach 

 to the smaller species of the genus Larus, and thus forms a 

 connecting link between the two genera. It breeds in the 

 marshes, and on the edges^of the lakes it inhabits, making no 

 nest, but depositing on the bare ground three or four eggs 

 of an oil-green colour, spotted with dark brown. It has not Incuba- 

 been known to breed in England, although most of the spe- 

 cimens hitherto obtained, as well as that described and 

 figured by MONTAGU } Were in the summer or nuptial plu- 

 mage. 



PLATE 88. Fig. 1. represents this bird of the natural size, in 



the winter plumage. 



Forehead and crown white, with the shafts of the feathers General 

 grey. Anterior angle of the eyes, and spot upon the t^ np " 

 auriculars, greyish-black. Upper parts deep pearl- Winter 

 grey. Quills grey, having a hoary appearance; the P luma g e - 

 tips of the first five being blackish-grey. Under plu- 

 mage white. Wings, when closed, extending upwards 

 of two inches beyond the tail. Bill not quite one inch 

 and a-half in length, and entirely black. J^egs and toes 



VOL. II. H h 



