AECTIC TERN. 



STERNA MACRURA, Naum. 



Sterna macrura, Naum. Isis, 1819, p. 1847; Naum. x. p. 114 ; 



Yarr. ed. 4, iii. p. 553. 

 Sterna arctica, Macg. v. p. 643; Heivitson, ii. p. 481. 

 Sterna hirundo, Dresser, viii. p. 255. 



Nordische See-Schwalbe, German. 



As this is a species with which I have virtually no 

 personal acquaintance, except in cabinets and glass-cases, 

 I will only say that it is the most abundant species of its 

 family throughout the northern portions of the British 

 Islands, and, in fact, of those of Europe in general. It 

 is, however, by no means strictly confined to the extreme 

 north, and breeds on many of the islands off the south 

 and west coast of Ireland. In food and habits this bird 

 is said hardly to vary from the Common Tern. In adult 

 plumage the Arctic may always be distinguished from 

 the Common Tern by its dark grey underparts, longer 

 tail-feathers, wholly red bill, and very short tarsi, whilst 

 the immature birds may, according to Mr. H. Saunders, 

 be always recognized by the narrowness of the dark 

 line that runs along the shaft on the inner webs of the 

 primaries. This line is both darker and more extensive 

 in the Common Tern. The range of this species extends 

 from " as far north as human foot has trodden " to 

 Brazil, Peru, and Table Bay. 



