STERNA. 223 



Genus STERNA. 



The Latinised form of the name. Of. Frisian Stim, Gennan Tdnner, Swedish Fisk-tdrna, 

 Norwegian Makrel-tem, our Tern or Tamey, Derivation unknown. 



Bill slender, lengthened. Tail much forked, with outer rectrices prolonged 

 and generally more than half length of wing {S. anglica less than half, S. seena 

 more than three-quarters). Webs well developed. 



Crmon black in summer. 



Wing from 11^" to 15". 



239. Sterna anglica. Thb Gull-billed Marsh-Tern. 



S 14" to 16". Legs black. Bill black.' Front, crown, and nape black. 

 Sides of head white. Five primaries tipped on inner webs. Below white. — 

 In winter : Head white, streaked grey and black. Temperate and warm regions 

 of Old World (except S. Africa), America, but almost unknown on the Pacific 

 side. Common in India and Ceylon. Eggs intermediate in character between 

 those of Terns and Gulls (2-0 x 146). (J. 983. B. 1499.) 



240. Sterna cantiaea. The Sandwich Sba-Tern. 



$ 17" to 18"; 14 oz. 2 16" to 17"; 12 oz. Legs black. Bill black, tip 

 yellow. Feathers of nape prolonged and pointed. Lower parts rosy. — In 



winter : Black crescent in front of eye. No rosy hue. Coasts of N. Atlantic, 

 Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas in summer. — In winter: S. Africa, 

 Bed Sea, Persian Gulf, and Sind. Eggs (2-1 x 1-4) buff, marked brown. 

 <B. 1500.) 



241. Sterna media. The Smaller Crested Sba-Tbrn. 



$ 15" to 17". Legs black. Bill yellow. Crest black. Cheeks, neck, and 

 below white. Mantle grey. Quills dark grey, with white on inside of inner 

 webs. — In winter : Crown black and white, and a black band from nape to the 



