114 



STERNA. TERN. 



Generic Character 



Rostrum capite longior, gra- 

 cile, subrcctum, compres- 

 siusculum apice acuto ; 

 mandibular superiore de- 

 flexo. 



Nares oblongae, basales. 



Alas longissimae. 



Cauda valde forficata. 



Pedes tetradactyli, debiles ; 

 dlgito postico minuto, un- 

 gues parvae. 



Beak longer than the head, 

 slender, nearly straight, 

 rather compressed, the tip 

 pointed, the upper man- 

 dible bent down. 



Nostrils oblong, nasal. 



Wings very long. 



Tail greatly forked. 



Legs four-toed, weak ; the 

 hinder toe minute, the 

 claws small. 



STERNA. Linn., Gmel., Lath. 

 HIRUNDO. Ray. 

 LARUS. Ray. 



J. HESE birds are readily distinguished by the great 

 length of their wings and their forked tail, as well as 

 by the form of their beak. In manner they some- 

 what resemble the Noddies, but are less stupid. They 

 are more generally distributed over the globe, and are 

 abundant in the temperate regions : their colours are 



