TERN. NATATORES. STERNA. 467 
the shell. The common varieties of them are either with 
fewer spots and blotches upon a white ground, or of a deep 
oil-green, with spots of a darker shade *. 
Prate 88. Fig. 2. Represents this bird of the natural size, 
and in the summer plumage. 
Forehead, crown, and long pendent occipital feathers deep General 
black, but in the beginning of the season the feathers of nae} 
the forehead are frequently spotted with white, being ares 
the remains of the winter plumage. Fore part of the sa 
neck, breast, and under plumage rosy or reddish-white. 
Quills deep hoary ash-grey, having a velvety appear- 
ance with the interior half of their inner webs white. 
Bill black, with the tip straw-yellow. Legs black, the 
under surface of the toes and webs yellow. Claws 
black, and very hooked. 
In winter the forehead and crown are white. The occiput Winter 
black, with the edges of the feathers white. At the ee 
anterior angle of the eye is a patch of black. Under 
plumage glossy white, and without the rosy tint. In 
other respects as in the summer. 
The young of the year are, above, of a pale wood-brown, Young. 
transversely barred with broccoli-brown. The quills are 
of a deep blackish-grey, bordered and terminated by 
white. Under plumage white. Bill blackish, tinged 
with flesh-red, with a yellowish tip. Tail greyish-black 
in the middle, with the tips of the feathers white. 
* For correct figures of the Eggs of British Birds, I refer my readers to 
Mr Hewrirson’s beautiful work entitled “ British Oology,” now in the 
course of publication. 
ge 
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