CASPIAN TERN. 
15 
Adult iu Winter Plumage. — Similar to the summer plumage, 
but distinguished by the colour of the crown, which, instead of 
being wholly black, is white, with broad central streaks of black, 
the sides of the face being similarly marked. 
Immature Birds. — Resemble the winter plumage of the adults 
AS regards the crown of the head, but the black round the eye 
and above the ear-coverts is uniform. The back is pearly-grey 
in contrast to the lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts, 
which are whiter. On the wings, tail, and upper surface of the 
body, in places, are blacker bars or arrow-head markings, 
indicating immaturity. 
Nesti^ (^ne day old). Above, pale buff, inconspicuously 
mottled with dull brown ; under parts dull white. Older nestlings 
show a greyer tint above {Saunders). 
Characters. The Caspian Tern is distinguished by its large 
size and stout red bill. Other characters are given under the 
heading of the genus. 
ange in Great Britain. — Nine specimens of the Caspian Tern 
ave been recorded from Norfolk, and others have been seen 
o the eastern and southern coasts of England from Yorkshire 
tmd Lincolnshire and Dorset. Mr. E. Bidwell informed Mr. 
nff tif be had seen an individual of this species 
e Paine Islands on the 6th of June, 1880. It has not yet 
Scotland or Ireland, and the number of 
ens noted in the United Kingdom is under twenty. 
thro^u|hoTthe islands.— The present species is found 
in Europe extends^tn'^^i'’*^'^" countries, and its breeding range 
islands of%vU . A 60° N. lat , as it nests on the 
Sainders bD in the Baltic. Mr. Howard 
reach to Tnr, breeds in many paits of Asia, but does not 
Zealand inhabits Australia and New 
Casninn 'I'a, countries bordering the Indian Ocean the 
nests alnn« 'll ^ ^ winter visitor, as it is to Africa, but it 
In North A shores of the Persian Gulf and in Ceylon. 
the Arcdr '*■ '^‘^th coasts, from a little beyond 
fornia nn tu ^ Elorida on the Atlantic side and to Cali- 
luiuia on the west. 
