ARCTIC TERN. 



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The eggs are two or three in number, and vary 

 considerably. The average type is buffish or stone 

 colour, with rather small blotches and spots of dark 

 reddish brown and underlying greyish ones. They are 

 similar to eggs of the Arctic Tern. 



The Common Tern in breeding plumage has the 

 general colour of the upper parts French grey and of 

 the under parts white, tinged with grey. The top of 

 the head and nape are black. 



ARCTIC TERN. 



STERNA ARCTICA. 

 Family LARID^. Genus STERNA. 



This is the commonest of all the Terns, especially in 

 the northern part of Great Britain. It breeds chiefly 

 on the western islands of Scotland, and on parts of 

 the west coast of Ireland, as well as on the Fame 

 Islands ; it is also found breeding in several other 

 suitable spots frequented also by the common Sand- 

 wich Terns. It is a summer visitor, reaching us in the 



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