TERN. 



m 



edges of the feathers pale lead-coloured grey; the outer web of the 

 exterior, and edge of the adjoining black ; legs flesh-colour, with 

 the claw of the middle toe longer than the rest, and curved laterally 

 outwards. This is probably an immature bird. 



22 —WREATHED TERN. 



Sterna vittata, Ind. Orn. ii. 807. Gm. Lin. i. G09. 

 Wreathed Tern, Gen. Syn. vi. 359. 



LENGTH fifteen inches. Bill slender, near two inches long, 

 and blood red ; crown of the head, including the eye, and as far as 

 the nape black, bounded by a line of white all round ; the rest of 

 the plumage very pale ash-colour, in some parts nearly white; chin 

 palest; rump, vent, and tail pure white, the exterior feather inclining 

 to ash-colour; legs orange. One, supposed to be a younger bird, 

 had a shorter bill ; the tail ash-colour, with white shafts ; and the 

 general colour of the plumage every where darker. 



Inhabits Christmas Island, in the Southern Ocean. — In the col- 

 lection of Sir Joseph Banks. 



A. — Among the drawings of Sir John Anstruther is one greatly 

 similar, but the tail very pale ash-colour, and the outmost feather, 

 as far as it exceeds the others, quite white; the bill yellow; and the 

 legs crimson. — Inhabits India, and named Tetrarie. 



23.— CRIMSON-BILLED TERN. 



SIZE uncertain. Bill long in proportion, and crimson; irides 

 the same; the general colour of the plumage dusky lead-colour, 

 approaching to black ; beneath pale ash ; from the gape a white 

 streak passes under the eye, and ends in a long fringe of feathers, 

 which curve on each side of the neck, and there lie loose ; second 



