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ORD. III. GEN. II. TERN. 



m.^ 



SPE. III. LESS TERN. 

 PI. 206. 



Sterna minuta. Lin. Syft. I. p. 228. 



La petite hirondelle de Mer. Brif. Orn. VI. p. 206. 



This fpecies fcarcely exceeds two ounces in weight ; is eight inches and 

 half in length, and nineteen and half in breadth. The bill and legs referable 

 thofe of the preceding in colour, except that they are paler: the eyes are dark 

 brown : forehead, throat, and under parts, white : back of the head black, 

 with a black line from the bill to the eye : back, and wings, light grey: tail, 

 white, fhorter and lefs forked than that of the common tern. 



This bird appears to form a feparate community from the other terns; as I 

 have obferved a few pairs breed annually on the high ground at Shellnefs, in 

 the ifle of Sheppey, nearly oppofite the flat land ufed by the common tern ; 

 and they do not mix company. For the egg fee PI. XLIV. Fig. 2. All the 

 three fpecies hitherto noticed quit their fummer refidences in Auguft, and do 

 not return till April. 



