TERN. NATATORES. STERNA. 473 
ARCTIC TERN. 
STerana arctica, Temm. 
PLATE XC. Fie. 2. 
Sterna arctica, Temm. Man. d’Orn. 2. 742.—Selby in Zool. Jour. 2. 461. 
—Steph. Shaw’s Zool. 13. 152.—Sabine in Frank. Jour. App. 694. 
Hirondelle-de-Mer Arctique, Temm. Man. 2. 742. 
Arctic Tern, Selby in Zool. Jour. 2. 461.—Lath. Gen. Hist. 10. 116.— 
Shaw’s Zool. 13. 152. 
Tuts bird, which was first described and confirmed as a Periodical 
visitant. 
distinct species by M. Temmincx, has long been a summer 
visitant to the coasts of the north of England and Scotland. 
Here it is met with in greater numbers than even the Ro- 
seate and Sandwich Terns, but until the distinguishing cha- 
racters which separate it from the common species (of which 
Dr Ftemince still seems to consider it as only a variety) 
were pointed out, it had always, as the prevailing species in 
the parts it frequents, been mistaken for that bird; which 
latter, as I have previously noticed, is comparatively of rare 
occurrence on the north-eastern coast of the kingdom. Upon 
close examination and comparison of their characteristics, as 
great a distinction will be found to exist between the bird 
now before us and Sterna Hirundo, as between the latter 
and Sterna Dougallii ; which last is generally admitted to 
be a separate species. The bill is different in form, being 
shorter, and with the upper mandible more arched through- 
out its length; its colour is also of a deeper coral red, and, 
when some few exceptions occur to its being entirely of that 
colour, it is the extreme tip alone that is darker. Again, 
the tarsi of Sterna arctica are nearly two-eighths of an inch 
shorter than those of SS. Hirwndo,—a fact of itself sufficient 
to establish its rank as a species. It also differs materially 
in the colour of its plumage; the whole of the breast, neck, 
and under parts being of as deep a grey as the back and 
