105 
SILVER-WINGED BLACK TERN. 
NATATORES. 
STERNIDM. 
PLATE CCXCVI. 
SILVER-WINGED BLACK TERN. 
STERNA LEUCOPTERA. 
The Silver-winged Black Tern lias only very lately been 
added to tlie list of British Birds, in consequence of two spe¬ 
cimens that were shot on the Shannon in 1841 ; which spe¬ 
cimens are now in the Museum of the Natural History Society 
of Dublin. 
It is possible that this species has been occasionally over¬ 
looked by the common sportsman, but it differs so very much 
in appearance from the Sterna nigra, that no ornithologist who 
makes use of his eyes could for a single moment mistake 
it. 
The European countries in which the present species is 
known to pass some months in the year, are ' principally Hun¬ 
gary, Spain, Italy, and Switzerland; they arrive in the 
month of May, associated with the Black Tern, and disappear 
in July and August. 
The numbers are everywhere small, and it is consequently 
by no means wonderful that their habits have escaped the 
