224 Order XIV 



of the Common Tern, but are generally buff in ground- 

 colour ; the note is comparatively harsh and grating. 



The Common Tern (S. hirundo) is the most abundant 

 species in England and southern Scotland generally, 

 but further north the Arctic Tern (S. paradisea) out- 

 rivals it in numbers, and was till lately the only 

 member of the genus known to breed in Shetland. 

 Both occur up the west coast and in Ireland. If we 



Common Tern 



omit exact details, the Common Tern ranges over 

 temperate Europe and western Asia, with the Atlantic 

 Islands, north Africa and North America, while only the 

 Arctic Tern is found in the Fseroes, Iceland, and the 

 more northern regions. In the Common Tern the head 

 and nape are black, the upper parts grey, the lower 

 greyish white ; the bill is orange with yellowish white 

 tip, the legs are red. The nest and eggs are of the 

 usual type, described in the general account above. 



