TERNS 53 
strikingly coloured beak, and the deep orange legs. Sexes 
alike. In summer the fore-part of < 
the beak is red, the hinder-part slate- 
blue, the two areas being divided by a 
yellow line. In winter the yellow 
line and the slate-blue horny plate 
disappear, together with the cream- 
coloured fillet at the base of the bill, 
the orange-yellow rosette at the 
gape, and the slate-coloured append- = 
ages above and below the eye. No Fie. 63 
noticeable seasonal change in the tN 
plumage. Upper-parts black. Sides of the head pale greyish. 
Under-parts white, except black band round under the throat. 
The young have the beak much smaller. 
Nest. In a burrow in the soil on the top or sides of an isle 
or cliff, also under boulders and in crevices. Material: usually 
a little grass and feathers. .Species breeds in colonies. 
figgs. One. Dirty white, with more or less faintly marked 
shades of brown or violet. Av. size, 2°39x1°67. Laying 
begins in May. One brood. 
(3) Family: Laride, (a) Subfamily: Sternine—Terns 
105. Sandwich-tern [Sterna sandvicensis sandvicensis Latham ; 
Sterna cantiaca Gmelin]. Summer visitor to our coasts, Local, 
Bird of passage. 
Bird. Length 165 in. The Terns are sometimes called sea- 
swallows owing to their general re- 
semblance to the swallow tribe in 
appearance, allowance being made for 
the much larger size and the grey 
coloration. The present form may be 
distinguished from the following by 
its black relatively long beak with 
yellow tip, black legs, and the striking 
velvety black mane-shaped crest—and its habit of nesting in 
close packs. In flight its stouter build, longer beak and 
shorter tail aid recognition ; also its distinctive note—a sharp 
Kirr-whit. Top of head and nape black. Upper-parts and wings 
mostly pearl-grey, but rump and tail white. Under-parts white 
with a not very apparent salmon-pink tinge. The young show 
black or dusky markings on the upper-parts. 
Nest. Place: usually near the sea on sand among marram 
grass and the like, in shingle, also on mud-banks. The nest 
scrape is either unlined or more or less lined with grass and odds 
and ends picked up on the shore. Species breeds in colonies, 
Fig. 64. 
