274 
THE ROSEATE TERN. 
a concave margin ; claws curved, compressed, acute, that of hind toe 
smallest, of middle toe by much the largest, and having the inner edge 
thin and dilated. 
Plumage soft, close, blended, very short on the head ; the feathers in 
general broad and rounded. Wings very long, narrow, and pointed ; pri- 
mary quills tapering, the first longest, the rest rapidly graduated ; secondary 
short, broad, incurved, 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 brownish-black, deep orange at the base. Iris brown. Feet ver- 
milion ; claws blackish-brown yellow at the base. The upper part of the 
head and elongated occipital feathers greenish-black ; the hind neck white, 
the rest of the upper parts pale bluish-grey, the tail lighter ; the edges of the 
wings, the tips and inner edges of the quills, and the shafts white. The first 
primary is black on the outer web and part of the inner, the next two are 
similarly marked, but with the black shaded over with pale grey, the loose 
barbules being of that colour ; the other primaries become gradually lighter. 
The lower parts are of a beautiful light roseate hue, which soon fades after 
death ; the under surface of wings and tail white. 
Length to end of tail 14}f inches, to end of wings 12, to end of claws 
9 t 4 2 ; extent of wings 30 ; wing from flexure ; tail to end of shortest 
feathers 41, to end of longest feathers 7i ; bill along the ridge 14, along 
the edge of lower mandible 2 T V ; tarsus ; middle toe If) its claw §*. 
