TERNS. 



355 



FIG. 392. HEKKING 



The Terns or Sea-Swallows (Sterna). 

 from their extreme- 

 ly long and pointed 

 wings, their forked 

 tail and short feet 

 giving them an ap- 

 pearance and mode 

 of flight very much 

 resembling that of 

 the swallows. Their 

 beak is pointed, 

 compressed, and 

 straight, and the 

 membranes that 

 web their toes deep- 

 ly notched, so that 

 they swim but little, 

 but they fly over the 

 sea with astonish- 

 ing rapidity, utter- 

 ing loud cries and 

 cleverly picking up 

 from the surface of 

 the water the Mol- 

 lusks and little fish 



These birds derive their 



name 









FIG. 393. COMMON TERN. 



23 2 



