CASPIAN TERN. 



\ATATORES. 



493 



LAR1DM. 





THE CASPIAN TERN. 



Sterna caspia. 



c<a</riu, Caspian Tern, SELBY, Brit. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 463. 

 >> JKNVNS, Brit. Vert. p. 264. 



EYTON, Rare Brit. Birds, p. 66. 



,. GOULD, Birds of Europe, pt. xviii. 



Hirotiddlv-de-mer Tsclieyrava, TEMM. Man. d'Ornith. vol. ii. p. 733. 



STERNA. Generic Character. Bill as long, or longer than the head ; nearly 

 straight, compressed, slender, tapering, with the edges sharp, and the end pointed ; 

 the mandibles of equal length, the upper one slightly curved towards the point. 

 Nostrils near the middle of the beak, pierced longitudinally, pervious. Legs 

 sU-nder, naked for a short space above the tarsal joint ; tarsi short ; toes four, the 

 three in front united by intervening membranes deeply concave in front, or semi, 

 palmated ; the hind toe free ; claws small, curved. Wings long, pointed, the first 

 ({iiill-feather the longest. Tail forked in various degrees. 



To this family, the L&rid*, the last among British Birds, 

 belong about thirty-four species, of which the Terns and 





