260 
COMMON TEEN. 
extremely small, tlie third longest, the fourth considerably shorter, the 
second shorter than the fourth in the same proportion ; the anterior toes 
connected by reticulated webs, which are deeply concave at their margin. 
Claws arched, compressed, that of the hind toe smallest, of the middle by 
much the largest, and having the inner edge thin and dilated. 
Plumage soft, close, blended, very short on the fore part of the head ; the 
feathers, in general, broad and rounded ; wings very long, narrow, and 
pointed ; primary quills tapering to a rounded point, slightly curved inwards, 
the first longest, the rest rapidly graduated ; secondary quills short, broad, 
incurved, obliquely rounded, the inner more tapering. Tail long, very 
deeply forked, of twelve feathers, of which the outer are tapering, the middle 
short and rounded. 
Bill bright coral-red, black towards the end, the tip light yellow; inside 
of mouth reddish-orange; eye hazel. Feet coral-red, lighter than the bill ; 
claws brownish-black. Upper part of the head, and the hind neck half-way 
down, deep black, the anterior part tinged with brown, the posterior with 
blue. The sides of the head, the fore neck, and all the lower parts, white, 
with a slight tinge of greyish-blue on the breast. Back, scapulars, and 
wings, light greyish-blue, the edges of the wings, the rump, and upper tail- 
coverts, white, slightly tinged with grey. First primary with the outer 
web deep black, the shaft white, on the inner web a greyish-black band 
running along the shaft, narrow at the base, and widening so as to occupy 
the whole breadth of the web for an inch at the end, where it is hoary. The 
next five have the outer web, and a varying portion of the inner, in nearly 
their whole length hoary, but at the same time with a dusky shade, which 
becomes more apparent at the ends ; the rest of the quills are like the back, 
but margined and tipped with white. Tail-feathers with the inner webs 
white, the outer webs of the colour of the back, paler on the middle feathers, 
gradually deepening outwards, and on the outer feathers dark or blackish- 
grey. 
Length to end of tail 16 inches, to the fork of the tail 11, to end of wings 
15f, to end of claws 111 ; extent of wings 31i ; wing from flexure 11 T \ ; tail 
to end of lateral feathers 7 X 2, to fork 3 X ! 2 ; bare part of vibia fE ; tarsus ~s ; 
hind toe and claw middle toe and claw l x y Weight 5 oz. 
The Female is similar to the male, but rather smaller. In some instances 
I have seen a small portion of the forehead white. 
Length to end of tail 15 inches, to the fork 111, to end of wings 151, to 
end of claws 11 ; extent of wings 3.0£ ; wing from flexure 101 . Weight 5 oz. 
The Young in their first plumage have the bill dull greenish-black, with 
the tip yellowish ; the feet greenish-yellow. 
In winter, the bill is black, with the base pale orange, and the tip yellow 
