ORDER PALMIPEDES. 64-7 



been also called Sea Sivalloic.s, from the resemblance of their 

 forked tail, long wings, and their constant habit of shaving 

 the surface of the water in all directions, in pursuit of small 

 fish. But the term is exceedingly objectionable, as tending 

 to the inter-confusion of birds of such different orders, and 

 such essential differences of conformation and habits. 



The terns are continually on the wing, and, though web- 

 footed, are not seen to swim ; they rest but seldom, and only 

 on the land ; their food consists, for the most part, in small 

 fish and mollusca, which they seize upon the surface of the 

 water ; but they also catch aerial insects. In flying they 

 send forth sharp and piercing cries, especially during nest- 

 ling time. In calm weather they sometimes rise very high, 

 and are often seen to come plump down. The young differ 

 from the adult and aged, only before the moulting, which is 

 double in the known species, and there is no external diffe- 

 rence between the two sexes. The females deposit their eggs, 

 usually two or three in number, in a cavity, and these nests 

 are sometimes so close, that the sitting birds touch each 

 other. 



Terns are found in both continents, from the seas, lakes, 

 and rivers of the north, as far as the vast coasts of the Austral 

 Ocean, and in almost all the intermediate climates. In 

 Otaheite they rest upon the bushes, and Forster, in a walk 

 before the rising of the sun, has caught many of them that 

 were sleeping along the pathways. The species are nume- 

 rous ; but to dwell upon them in detail, as to habits, &c., 

 would involve nothing but tiresome repetition. 



The Black-naped Tern, Sterna Melanaiichen^ has been 

 lately described by M. Temminck, and is figured in his 

 splendid work on birds. 



Our figure of the Bearded Tern is from a specimen in the 

 British Museum, brought from Peru by Captain Lord Byron. 

 And the Black-crested Tern is from a specimen lately in Mr. 



