STERNA HIRUNDO. 
COMMON TERN, 
Generic Character, See Sterna Boifii. 
Synonyms, 
Sterna Hirundo. Lin, Syft, 2. Ind. Orn. 
2. p. 807. 15. 
Common Tern. Bn ZooL 2. 254, /j^. 90. Ih. foL 
JL H I S fpecies is fourteen inches in length, and twenty- 
nine in breadth ; it weighs about four ounces. Bill two inches 
and a half long, very fharp pointed ; irides reddifli ; tail 
much forked ; legs and claws flender. Colour of the fexes 
alike. ^ 
^ The Common is the moft abundant of the Tern family ; 
in the fpring it is frequently met with at a great diftance from 
the fea ; nearly two dozen of them were feen for fome days 
early in the year 1812, fkimming over a refervoir of the 
Grand Surrey Canal, above Sydenham ; about the fame time 
we heard of them from fcveral other inland parts. 
144. tab. i,* Lath, Syn, 6. p. 361. 
14, Mont. Orn, BIB, Vol. 2. Be^ 
wick's Br. Birds ^ Ft. 2. p. i8i. 
It 
