230 STERNINJE. STERNA. 



short on the fore part of the head ; wings very long, narrow, 

 pointed ; primary quills tapering to an obtuse point, the 

 first longest ; tail of moderate length, or long, forked, of 

 twelve feathers. 



The Terns, properly so called, are slender, elegantly- 

 formed birds, of which some species occur on almost all sandy 

 coasts. Their wings are always very long and pointed, the 

 tail forked. Their prevailing colours are white beneath, 

 pale greyish-blue above, with the upper part of the head 

 black. The occipital feathers are always elongated. In the 

 colder regions they reside only in summer, at which season 

 several species extend even to the borders of the polar ice. 

 Even in Britain, none are usually found during the winter. 

 They deposit their eggs on the ground. The young are 

 mottled, and remain in the nest, or near it, until able to fly. 



289. STERNA CASPIA. CASPIAN TERN. 



Bill stout, tapering, longer than the head, vermilion; feet 

 black ; tail forked, shorter than the wings. In winter, the 

 forehead and crown white, the occiput variegated with black. 

 In summer, all the upper parts of the head deep black. Hind- 

 neck, back, and wing-coverts pale greyish- blue ; lower parts 

 white ; primary quills greyish-brown ; tail pale grey. Young 

 with the bill dull red, the upper plumage pale greyish brown, 

 variegated with black ; lower parts white. 



Male 22, 43, 14, 2|, l, 1 T ^, T V 



This species, which, on account of its comparatively large 

 bill, some have referred to a separate genus, has been met 

 with in a few instances on the south-eastern coasts of Eng- 

 land. It is said by M. Temminck to inhabit the shores of 

 the Baltic, Caspian, and Mediterranean Seas, but to be of 

 rare or accidental occurrence on the western coasts of Europe. 

 He also informs us that it nestles on the sand, in a slight 

 hollow, or on rocks bordering the sea, and lays two or three 

 eggs, of a greyish-green colour, sprinkled with large brown 

 and deep black spots. 



Sterna Caspia, Gmcl. Syst. Nat. i. 603. Sterna Caspia, 

 Lath. Ind. Ornith. ii. 803. Sterna C'ispia, Temm. Man. 

 d'Ornith. ii. 733. Sterna Caspia, Caspian Tern, MacGilli- 

 vray, Brit. Birds, v. 



290. STERNA CANTIACA. SANDWICH TERN. 

 Bill rather longer than the head, black, with the points 



