GREAT TERN. 
155 
rivers, and are occasionally seen about all our nuine- 
ponds, lakes, and rivers, most usually near the 
of the summer. 
i r ois species inhabits Europe as high as Spitzbergen ; 
I, I 'ind oil the arctic coasts of Siberia and Kamtschatka, 
b " ^so on our own continent as far north as Hudson’s 
j In New England, it is called by some the mackerel 
retires from all these places, at the approach 
.J'uter, to more congenial seas and seasons, 
ill k Sroat tern is fifteen inches long, and thirty 
(|,*^oes in extent; bill, reddish yellow, sometimes bril- 
•iBil*’ ®''*®son, slightly angular on the lower mandible, 
I)]'* lipt with black; nhole upper part of the head, 
extending to a point half way down the neck 
. /"Id, and including the eyes ; sides of the neck and 
if loner parts, pure white; wing-iiuills, hoary, as 
Leached by the neatber, long and pointed; whole 
It H ’ *oap>ilars, and n ing, bluish white, or very pale 
oolour; rum]) and tail-coverts, white ; tfiil, long, and 
forked, the exterior feathers being three inches 
,/J,''Ser than the adjoining ones, the rest shortening 
‘‘dually for an inch and a half to the middle ones, 
"'hole of a pale lead colour; the outer edge of the 
i. ^i®'’ior ones, black; legs and webbed feet, brilliant 
e! ^oud ; membranes of the feet, deeply scalloped ; 
j, large and black, middle one the largest. The 
,;j""sry quill-feathers are gencrall;^ dark on their inner 
female differs in having the two exterior 
tlj ““oi's of the tail considerably shorter. The voice of 
birds is like the harsh jarring of an opening 
rusted on its hinges. The bone of the skull is 
lC/"’kably thick and strong, as also the membrane 
w ^ surrounds the brain ; in this respect resembling the 
i„:""Pecker’s. In both, this provision is doubtless 
tljJ"'dud to enable the birds to support, without injury, 
UUn ^‘®leut concussions caused by the plunging of the 
) ^ud the chiselling of the other. 
