414 AVES. @ 
which render their flight and carriage analogous to those of Swal- 
lows. Their bill is pointed, compressed, and straight, without 
curve or projection; the nostrils, placed near its base, are oblong 
and pierced quite through; the membranes, which unite their toes 
are deeply emarginate, consequently they swim but seldom. They 
fly over the waves in every direction and with great rapidity, uttering | 
loud cries, and skilfully raising from the surface of the water the © ' 
Mollusca and small Fish on which they feed. They also penetrate to 
the lakes and rivers of the interior. The most common species that 
is found on the fresh waters of France in the spring is, 6 
— 
St. hirundo, L.; Le Pierre-Garin, &c., Enl. 9873 Frisch, 2193, 
Naum. 37, f. 52; Wils. VII, Ix, 1. (The Common Tern.) In 
the adult state, white with a light ash-coloured mantle, black 
calotte, red feet, and red bill with a black point. It is about 
one foot long,and two feet from the tip of one wing to that of the 
other. 
St. minuta, L.; Petit Hir. de mer, Enl. 996; Wils. V, Ix, 25 
Naum. 38, f. 55. (The Small Tern.) Only differs from the pre- 
ceding by being a third smaller, and having a white forehead. 
St. cantiaca, Albin, II, Ixxxviii; Hir. de mer a bec noir, is larger 
than S. hirundo; the beak is black, with a yellow point: the Sz. 
striata, Gm., Lath. VI, pl. 98, is its young. # 
St. caspia, Pall. Saban! Mus. Carls., Ixii; Meyer, Ois. d’Al- 
lem., II, vi; Sav., Egypt., Ois. pl. ix, F. 1. (The Caspian Tern.) 
The largest of the European species; white, with an ash colour- 
ed mantle; occiput, black and white mixed; red beak and black 
feet. 
St. nigra, fisstpes and neevias Hir. de mer noire, Enl. 338 and 
9243; Frisch, 220. (The Black Tern.) The tail less forked; 
when young, its mantle is spotted with black; the adult is al- 
most entirely of a blackish ash colour. 
Among the species foreign to Europe, we should notice the 
Hir. de mer @ aigrettes, St. inca, Less. and Garn., from the coast. 
of Peru, Voy. de la Coq., Zool. pl. 47, which is black; red bill 
and feet; a band on the cheek, and the feathers of the ear pen- 
dent and white.(1) 
(1) Add of Europ. Spec.: St. Dougalii, Montag.; Vieill., Gal. 290;—S?. anglica, 
Id., or aranea, Wils. VIL, Ixxii, 6;—St. arctica, Tem. i—St. leucopareia, Natter. ;— 
St. leucoptera, Tem., Schinz., Ois., de Suisse, frontisp. mt 
Of spec. foreign to Europe: St. cayana, Enl. 998;—St. melanauchen, Tem, col 
427;—St. melanogaster, 1d. Col. 434;—St. fetiginote, Wils. 
+ 
