COMMON TERN. X01 



extremely small, the third longest, the fourth considerably shorter, the 

 second shorter than the fourth in the same proportion; the anterior toes con- 

 nected by reticulated webs, which are deeply concave at their margin. 

 Claws arched, compressed, that of the hind toe smallest, of the middle by 

 much the largest, and having the inner edge thin and dilated. 



Plumage soft, close, blended, very short on the fore part of the head; the 

 feathers, in general, broad and rounded; wings very long, narrow, and 

 pointed; primary quills tapering to a rounded point, slightly curved inwards, 

 the first longest, the rest rapidly graduated; secondary quills short, broad, 

 incurved, obliquely rounded, the inner more tapering. Tail long, very 

 deeply forked, of twelve feathers, of which the outer are tapering, the middle 

 short and rounded. 



Bill bright coral-red, black towards the end, the tip light yellow; inside 

 of mouth reddish-orange; eye hazel. Feet coral-red, lighter than the bill; 

 claws brownish-black. Upper part of the head, and the hind neck half-way 

 down, deep black, the anterior part tinged with brown, the posterior with 

 blue. The sides of the head, the fore neck, and all the lower parts, white, 

 with a slight tinge of greyish-blue on the breast. Back, scapulars, and 

 wings, light greyish-blue, the edges of the wings, the rump, and upper tail- 

 coverts, white, slightly tinged with grey. First primary with the outer 

 web deep black, the shaft white, on the inner web a greyish-black band 

 running along the shaft, narrow at the base, and widening so as to occupy 

 the whole breadth of the web for an inch at the end, where it is hoary. The 

 next five have the outer web, and a varying portion of the inner, in nearly 

 their whole length hoary, but at the same time with a dusky shade, which 

 becomes more apparent at the ends; the rest of the quills are like the back, 

 but margined and tipped with white. Tail-feathers with the inner webs 

 white, the outer webs of the colour of the back, paler on the middle feathers, 

 gradually deepening outwards, and on the outer feathers dark or blackish- 

 grey. 



Length to end of tail 16 inches, to the fork of the tail 11, to end of wings 

 15f, to end of claws Hi; extent of wings 31^; wing from flexure ll^j tail 

 to end of lateral feathers 7 T 2, to fork 3^1 bare part of tibia f|; tarsus yf ; 

 hind toe and claw yf, middle toe and claw 1^\. Weight 5 oz. 



The Female is similar to the male, but rather smaller. In some instances 

 I have seen a small portion of the forehead white. 



Length to end of tail 15 inches, to the fork 11^-, to end of wings 15^, to 

 end of claws 11; extent of wings 3<H; wing from flexure 10^. Weight 5 oz. 



The Young in their first plumage have the bill dull greenish-black, with 

 the tip yellowish; the feet greenish-yellow. 



In winter, the bill is black, with the base pale orange, and the tip yellow- 



