BRITISH BIRDS. 



179 



THE ROSEATE TERN. 



(Sterna I)n<rallii\ Mont. Hirondelle etc incr Dougall y 

 Temm.) 



MOXTAGI' mentions this elegant looking bird as 

 an undescribed species of Tern; and from the 

 white feathers of the whole under parts being 

 tinged with a most delicate rosy blush, he has 

 named it as above. The bill is slender, slightly 

 curved, and about an inch and five-eighths long; it 

 is jet black, excepting at the base, where it is of a 

 bright orange; the irides are black; the head is 

 also black, and the feathers elongated down the 

 back part of the neck ; the upper parts pale 

 cinereous; quill feathers narrow, the shafts white, 

 the first has the exterior web black, with a hoary 

 tinge; the others are also hoary next the shafts, 

 and all margined deeply on the inner webs with 

 white to the tips; the tail is greatly forked, ex- 

 tremely slender, and extends two inches beyond the 



