144 



STERNA. TERN. 



Generic Character. 



Rostrum capite longior, gra- 

 cile, subrectum, compres- 

 siusculum apice acuto ; 

 mandibula superiore de- 

 llexo. 



Nares oblongae, basales. 

 Alee longissimae. 

 Cauda valde forficata. 

 Pedes tetradactyli, debiles ; 



digito postico minuto, un- 



gues parvae. 



Beak longer than the head, 

 slender, nearly straight, 

 rather compressed, the tip 

 pointed, the upper man- 

 dible bent down. 



Nostrils oblong, nasal. 



Wings very long. 



Tail greatly forked. 



Legs four-toed, weak; the 

 hinder toe minute, the 

 claws small. 



STERNA. Linn., Gmel., Lath. 

 HIRUNDO. Ray. ' 

 LARUS. Rav. 



These birds are readily distinguished by the great 

 length of their wings and their forked tail, as well as 

 by the form of their beak. In manner they some- 

 what resemble the Noddies, but are less stupid. They 

 are more generally distributed over the globe, and are 

 abundant in the temperate regions : their colours are 



