166 



VIRALVA. VIRALVE. 



Generic Character* 



Rostrum capite brevior, su- 

 bulatum, subrectum, com- 

 pressiusculum, apice sub- 

 inclinato; mandibula su- 

 periore fer^ rectum. 



Nares oblongae, basales. 



Alee longas. 



Cauda subfurcata. 



Pedes tetradactyli, debiles; 

 digito postico minuto ; un- 

 gues parvae. 



Beah shorter than the head, 

 subulated, nearly straight, 

 sUghtly compressed, the 

 tip a little inclined: the 

 upper mandible nearly 

 straight. 



Nostrils oblong, basal. 



Wings long. 



Tail slightly forked. 



Feet four-toed, slender ; the 

 hinder toe minute; claws 

 small. 



VIRALVA. Leach. 



STERNA. Linn., Gmel., Lath., &c. 



LARUS. Ray. 



The beak of the Viralves is shorter than that of 

 the Terns, and the point is slightly bent down ; their 

 wings are also shorter, and the tail is but slightly fur- 

 cate. Unlike the Terns these birds seldom feed on 

 fishes, but prefer insects, such as dragon-flies and 

 moths, and aquatic vermes* 



