ARCTIC TERN. 
21 
eggs from a nest, all apparently laid by the same bird.” The 
general colour of the eggs varies from stone-colour to ochreous- 
_ un or olive-huff with spots or drops of black often merging 
into confluent blotches, the underlying spots being faint 
purplish-grey and not very distinct. Sometimes the variation 
m the depth of the colour of the eggs is very marked, and 
le ground-colour is so deep a rufous-brown that the black 
markings are scarcely perceptible. The markings are generally 
IS n ruted over the surface of the egg, but are sometimes con- 
° ea in confluent blotches round the laruer end Axis 
i '7 5 inches; diam., I-I-I-3. ' ’ 
II. THE ARCTIC TERN. STERNA MACRURA. 
Sterna mac^,ra, Naum 1819, p. 1847; B. O. U. List. 
■ • P- ^80(1883); Saunders, ed. Yarrell’s Brit. B. 
id. Man. Brit. B. p. 633 (1889): 
(1894); Saunders, 
Cat, B. Brit. Mus. XXV. p. 62 (1896.) 
Stana arctica,’Ym. ■ Macgill. Brit. B. v. p. 643 (1852); 
Seebohm, Hist. Brit. B. iii. p. 284 (1885.) 
Sterna hirimdo, Miillcr (nec I.ath.) ; Dresser, B. Eur. viii. 
P- 255. Pl. 579 (1872.) 
but distinguished by 
and Vse *inrk tips, and by the much narrower 
Ste sha? Tf the inner aspect of the 
Saunders tL tarsus^^^ ^r. Howard 
does not exceed tho *^^an m the Common Tern, and 
claw ■ “ bill hInnH middle toe without the 
Tolnenmh i dark-brown.” 
-5; wings, ro- 8 ; tail, 7-0 ; 
feathers rather*shr,^t™''^''r’^° 
leathers rather shorter. Total length, 14 inches ; wing, 10-5. 
in tvanti'ncr^thl*^ P''®’'*"' the summer plumage 
mottlpd nnti Cap; the forehead and crown being 
evpc; hnrl' ^ 7 hinder crown and nape from the 
nrpv «cVi ® Piack; under parts whiter, with scarcely any 
grey shade on the breast; bill and feet duller. 
