534 SANDWICH TERN. 



proportionally longer and narrower. Tail rather long, deeply forked, of 

 twelve feathers, the outer tapering to a point. 



Bill black, excepting the tips, which are yellow ; inside of the mouth 

 deep blue. Iris brown. Feet black. The upper part of the head, 

 occiput and part of hind neck bluish-black. Sides of the head, neck 

 all round, and the rest of the lower parts white, the breast frequently 

 tinged with pink. The fore part of the back, the scapulars and the 

 upper surface of the wings pale greyish-blue ; the tips and the greater 

 parts of the inner webs of the scapulars, and quills white, as are the rump 

 and the tail ; the four outer quills blackish, but covered with light grey 

 down, on the outer webs and over a considerable extent of the inner, their 

 shafts white. 



Length to end of tail 15f inches, to end of wings 16/j ; to end of 

 claws 12f ; extent of wings 33| ; wing from flexure 12;^; tail 6; bill 

 along the back 2^, along the edge of lower mandible 2^|; tarsus 1^*^ ; 

 middle toe ^^1, its claw ^^. Weight 6i oz. 



The Female is similar to the Male. 



The young, after the first moult, are of a light greyish-blue colour 

 on the upper parts, the feathers tipped and banded in an undulating man- 

 ner with brownish-black ; the upper part of the head and the hind neck 

 are of the latter colour, but mottled with white. The quills are as in the 

 adult, the tail grey, with irregular brownish-black markings towards the 

 tips of the feathers. The lower parts are also pale grey, but much lighter 

 than the upper. The bill and feet are black, but the tip of the former 

 has not vet assumed a yellow tint. 



