190 BRITISH BIRDS. 



mottled with brownish-black, and mantle with greyish- 

 brown ; bill and feet yellowish, becoming dusky during 

 first winter. 



Common from May to September on our coasts, excepting 

 the north of Scotland. Eggs : 2 or 3 ; varying from pale 

 stone-colour to brownish -buff, blotched and spotted with 

 dark brown and grey; 1-65 by 1*15. 



324. Sterna maerura, Naum. ARCTIC TERN. 



Hab. Circumpolar region. In winter reaching Equator. 



Differs from S. fluviatilis in having the upper parts 

 darker, and under parts pale ash-grey ; bill and feet 

 dark red ; tarsi and wing somewhat shorter. 



Common in spring in the Shetlands, Orkneys, Hebrides, 

 all around Scotland, and on the N.E. coast of England ; 

 also the north, west and south of Ireland. Eggs : often 

 with a more olive or greenish tint than the Common 

 Tern's, and frequently more boldly blotched or zoned ; 

 I -60 by I 'io. 



325. Sterna dougalli, Montagu. ROSEATE TERN. 



Hab. Temperate and tropical regions of globe. 



Rather smaller than S. fluviatilis, but with a pro- 

 portionately longer and entirely grey tail and of a paler 

 grey on mantle, while under parts are pure white tinged 

 with pink ; bill black ; feet red. Length 14*00 ; wing 9*00. 



Formerly breeding rather commonly on our coasts, 

 but it appears now to only breed on the Fame Islands. 



326. Sterna minuta (Linn.). LITTLE TERN. 



ffub. Palaearctic region, eastward to North India. 



Adult : forehead white ; rest of head and nape black ; 

 mantle and wings pale grey, primaries darker and 

 margined with white on inner webs ; rump, tail, and 



