230 
STERNINJE. STERNA. 
short on the fore part of the head ; wings very long, narrow, 
pointed ; primary quills tapering to an obtuse point, the 
first longest ; tail of moderate length, or long, forked, of 
twelve feathers. 
The Terns, properly so called, are slender, elegantly- 
formed birds, of which some species occur on almost all sandy 
coasts. Their wings are always very long and pointed, the 
tail forked. Their prevailing colours are white beneath, 
pale greyish- blue above, with the upper part of the head j 
black. The occipital feathers are always elongated. In the 
colder regions they reside only in summer, at which season 
several species extend even to the borders of the polar ice. 
Even in Britain, none are usually found during the winter. 
They deposit their eggs on the ground. The young are 
mottled, and remain in the nest, or near it, until able to fly. 
289. Sterna Caspia. Caspian Tern. 
Bill stout, tapering, longer than the head, vermilion ; feet 
black ; tail forked, shorter than the wings. In winter, the 
forehead and crown white, the occiput variegated with black. 
In summer, all the upper parts of the head deep black. Hind- 
neck, back, and wing-coverts pale greyish-blue ; lower parts j 
white ; primary quills greyish-brown ; tail pale grey. Young j 
with the bill dull red, the upper plumage pale greyish brown, 
variegated with black ; lower parts white. 
Male 22, 43, 14, 2|, H , W . I; 
This species, which, on account of its comparatively large j 
bill, some have referred to a separate genus, has been met 
with in a few instances on the south-eastern coasts of Eng- 
land. It is said by M. Temrninck to inhabit the shores of 
the Baltic, Caspian, and Mediterranean Seas, but to be of 
rare or accidental occurrence on the western coasts of Europe. 
He also informs us that it nestles on the sand, in a slight 
hollow, or on rocks bordering the sea, and lays two or three 
eggs, of a greyish-green colour, sprinkled with large brown 
and deep black spots. 
Sterna Caspia, Gmel. Syst. Nat. i. 603. — Sterna Caspia, 
Lath. Ind. Ornith. ii. 803. — Sterna Caspia, Ternm. Man. 
d’Ornith. ii. 733. — Sterna Caspia, Caspian Tern, MacGilli- 
vray, Brit. Birds, v. 
290. Sterna Cantiaca. Sandwich Tern. 
Bill rather longer than the head, black, with the points 
