STERNIN^E. STERNA. 233 



the coasts of the mainland, as in the Frith of Forth, and in 

 various parts of England, it is very abundant. The eggs, de- 

 posited in sandy or rocky places, are like those of the Com- 

 mon Tern, an inch and three-quarters in length, and an inch 

 and two or three twelfths in breadth. 



Sterna arctica. Temm. Man. d'Ornith. ii. 742. Sterna arc- 

 tica, Arctic Tern, MacGillivray, Brit. Birds, v. 



293. STERNA MACDOUGALLI. ROSEATE TERN. 



Bill about the same length as the head, slender, orange- 

 red at the base, then black ; feet vermilion ; wings about 

 three inches shorter than the tail, which is very deeply forked. 

 In summer, the upper part of the head and nape bluish-black; 

 the upper parts pale bluish-grey ; the tail of a lighter tint, 

 but the outer webs of the lateral feathers dusky-grey ; pri- 

 mary quills dusky toward the end, the outer three with their 

 outer webs and part of the inner hoary black ; the hind-neck 

 white, fore-neck, breast, and sides, of a delicate pale roseate 

 hue ; lower surface of wings and tail white. 



Male, 14if, 30, 9*, H, i, if, T V 



This beautiful Tern was discovered by Dr Macdougall on 

 the Cumbray islands in the Frith of Clyde, and described by 

 Montagu, who gave it the specific name of Dougallii. It has 

 since been found on various parts of the coast, both in Eng- 

 land and Scotland. It is said also to occur on the continent, 

 and Mr Audubon found it breeding in abundance on the Flo- 

 rida Keys. Its flight is peculiarly light and buoyant, but its 

 habits are similar to those of the Common and Arctic Terns. 

 The eggs are an inch and nine- twelfths in /length, an inch 

 and a twelfth in breadth, yellowish-grey or olivaceous, spotted 

 with dark-brown. 



Sterna Dougallii, Mont. Ornith. Diet. Suppl. Sterna Dou- 

 gallii, Temrn. Man. d'Ornith. ii. 738. Sterna Macdougalli, 

 Roseate Tern, MacGillivray's Brit. Birds, v. 



294. STERNA NIGRA. BLACK-BREASTED TERN. 



Bill about the same length as the head, rather slender, 

 brownish-black; feet reddish-brown; wings two inches longer 

 than the tail, which is but slightly forked, or merely emar- 

 ginate. In summer, the head, neck, breast, sides, and ab- 

 domen, greyish-black ; upper parts dark bluish-grey ; shafts 

 of quills and tail-feathers white ; outer web of first quill 

 greyish-black ; lower wing-coverts bluish grey, lower tail- 

 coverts white. In winter, the fore-part of the head, and 

 the fore-neck white ; the other parts as in summer. Young 



