252 
SHORT-FOOTED TERN. 
Sterna brachypus, Swains. 
Bill and feet red ; tail white, deeply forked ; wings eleven 
inches long, and shorter than the tail ; tarsus half an inch. 
Of this species the only specimen we have yet seen 
is in the British Museum, where it was pointed out 
to us some years ago as a native of Western Africa. 
Its general size is that of S. melamptera, and it is 
distinguished from all the other black capped species 
resembling 5. hirundo, by its very short tarsus, 
which, from notes then made, only measures half 
an inch. Not having a second specimen to examine, 
we subjoin the description of that before alluded to. 
General colour cinereous, both above and below, 
but paler and nearly white on the chin ; upper and 
under tail-covers pure white ; tail the same, hut the 
outer weh of the two external feathers is deep 
cinereous, almost sooty black. Quills blackish ci- 
nereous, the shafts pure white, with the inner web 
half cinereous, half white ; bill red ; feet orange ; 
tail one inch longer than the quills. 
Total length, 15 inches; bill, from the gape, 1 X C B ; 
from the front, 1 T % ; wings, 11 ; tail, from the base, 
8 ; depth of the fork, 4| ; tarsus, 
