Class II. COMMON TERN. 197 



TION. 



JL his kind weighs four ounces one quarter : Descri 

 the length is fourteen inches; the breadth thirty. 

 The bill and feet are of a fine crimson ; the former 

 tipt with black, strait, slender, and sharp point- 

 ed ; the crown, and hind part of the head, black ; 

 the throat, and whole under side of the body, 

 white ; the upper part, and the coverts of the 

 wings, a fine pale grey; the tail consists of 

 twelve feathers ; the exterior edges of the three 

 outmost are grey, the rest white ; the exterior, 

 on each side, is two inches longer than the 

 others; in flying, the bird frequently closes 

 them together, so as to make them appear one 

 slender feather. , ki^r .iiuy •--. v.; 



• These birds frequent the sea shores, banks of 

 lakes and rivers ; they feed on small fish, and 

 water insects, hovering over the water, and sud- 

 denly darting into it, catch up their prey. They 

 breed* among small tufts of rushes, and lay 

 three or four eggs, of a dull olive color, spotted 

 with black. All the birds of this genus are 

 very clamorous. 



* They breed plentifully on Priestholm isle off the coast of 

 Anglesey, depositing their eggs on the bare ground. Ed. 



