BRITISH BIRDS. 189 



buffi sh- white stripe in the middle, there being also 

 another whitish stripe over each eye. Length : male 

 about 13*00, wing 9*50; female slightly larger. 



A common visitor in spring and autumn to our coasts, 

 a proportion remaining throughout the summer. It is 

 only known to breed in the Shetlands, Orkneys, and 

 some of the Outer Hebrides. 



322. Numenius borealis (Forster). ESQUIMAUX 



CURLEW. 



Hab. Arctic America. Wintering in S. America. 

 A rare straggler, not more than eight examples having 

 been obtained in the British Isles. 



GAVZ2E. 

 Family Eiaridae. 

 Sub-Family Sterninse. 



GENUS CLXXXIV. STERNA, Brisson (1760). 



Bill longer than head, compressed, tapering to a sharp 

 point, nearly straight, but upper mandible gently decurved. 

 Nostrils placed at about middle of bill ; wings long and 

 pointed ; tail more or less deeply forked ; tarsus short ; 

 feet webbed ; hind toe small and elevated. 



323. Sterna fluviatilis, Naum. COMMON TERN. 



Hab. Palsearctic region ; also Eastern North America. 



Adult : head and nape black ; mantle pale grey ; rump 

 and tail white, with grey outer margins to the long tail- 

 eathers ; below white, with a pinkish-grey tinge on the 

 breast ; bill and feet orange-red. In winter crown is 

 nearly white. Length 13*00. Young: crown and nape 



