22 CASPIAN TEEN. 



greater and lesser wing coverts, blue grey; the first four, 

 five, or six primaries are slate grey, with a brown tinge, 

 the shafts white; greater and lesser under wing coverts, 

 white. The tail, which is only slightly forked, is grey, 

 according to Sir William Jardine; under tail coverts, white; 

 the legs, bare of feathers for nearly aji inch above the knee 

 joint, are as the toes, black; claws, strong and curved, black; 

 webs, black. 



The female is not quite so large as the male. 



The young are at first covered with white down. Before 

 their first autumnal moult they have the bill dull red, the 

 tip black; forehead and crown, white; chin, throat, and 

 breast, white; back, greyish brown, with some bars and 

 patches of a darker brown or blackish; greater and lesser 

 wing coverts, also greyish brown, with marks of a darker 

 colour; primaries, dark blackish brown. Greater and lesser 

 under wing coverts, white. The tail is dark blackish brown 

 at the end. 



Besides the autumnal moult, the Terns change part of 

 their plumage in the spring. 



