100 TERN. 



eyes deep black, here and there dotted with white; on the lower 

 eyelid a small whitish crescent ; the hind part of the neck and all 

 the upper parts of the body are hoary ; fore part and sides of the 

 neck, all beneath the body, the rump, and tail pure white, the last 

 forked; the first six quills deep ash-colour, the margins and tips 

 blackish ; the others like the back ; legs black. Pallas's bird had 

 the bastard wing marked with sagittal black spots; legs reddish 

 brown. — This is very frequent in the Caspian Sea, and neighbouring 

 parts, about the mouth of the Jaick ; wandering at times up the 

 great River Ob, even towards the Frozen Ocean ; frequents also the 

 rivers, fishing much in the same manner as the Black-headed Gull ; 

 sometimes seen suspended in the air, and then all at once darting 

 into the water after a fish ; at others skimming the surface, like a 

 Swallow. Mixes with the Gulls on the rocks; lays two pretty large 

 eggs, spotted with brown; the note like a person laughing. The 

 Russians call it Tschegrava. 



A.— Gen. Syn. vi. 351. Var. A. Jnd. Orti. ii.- 804; 1. B. 



This is a trifle smaller. Bill stout, three inches and a half long, 

 and deep red ; top of the head and sides, taking in the eyes, black, 

 spotted with white ; the rest of the head, neck, and under parts, 

 white; back hoary; quills pale grey, with white shafts; on the 

 scapulars a few dusky spots; tail short, forked, crossed with a few 

 dusky bars, near the end ; the wings exceed it in length by three 

 inches; legs black. — Inhabits Bombay, and called Talla; is found 

 also in New-Holland. 



A. — Sterna Caspica Var. Mus. Carls, fasc. iii. No. 62. Jnd. Orn. ii 804. 



In this. the bill is crimson ; the plumage chiefly differs in having 

 the crown of the head plain black ; back and wing coverts inclining 

 to lead-colour, hoary, or silvery white ; the quills reach much 

 beyond the end of the tail. 



