The Whiskered Tern 

 THE WHISKERED TERN 



Hydrochelidon hybrids (Pallas) 



This is a more southern species than its congeners, 

 breeding in Spain, on the delta of the Rhone, and eastwards 

 in Turkey, Greece, and South Russia. To our shores it is a 

 very rare visitor, some half-a-dozen specimens only having 

 heen obtained. 



In summer it is not unlike the Black Tern, but it may 

 be recognised by the bill, which is stouter and red; the 

 black of the head and nape is sharply contrasted with the 

 grey of the back. A broad white stripe runs backwards 

 from the base of the bill. Chin and throat grey, shading to 

 black on the belly. In winter the forehead and under parts 

 are white. Length 11 '5 in.; wing 9 "2 5 in. 



THE GULL-BILLED TERN 



Sterna anglica, Montagu 



With this species we come to the true Terns or Sea- 

 Swallows, the preceding species being known as Marsh 

 Terns, The Gull-billed Tern is only a very scarce straggler 

 to our shores, being a southern European species though 

 occurring yearly as far north as Denmark. 



In habits there is nothing to distinguish it from our 

 commoner species. 



In summer the adult has the whole of the upper parts, 

 35i 



