BRITISH BIRDS, 
199 
COMMON TERN. 
GREAT TERN, KIRMEW, OR SEA-SWALLOW. 
{Sterna Hirundo, Lin . — La grande HirondeUe-de-mer^ BufF.) 
This bird meafures above fourteen inches in 
length, thirty in breadth, and weighs more than 
four ounces. The bill is of a crimfon colour, tip- 
ped with black, and about two inches and a quarter 
in length : the head is capped with a longifh black 
patch, which extends over the eyes, and ends in a 
point below the nape of the neck : the throat, 
cheeks, neck, and the whole of the under parts are 
white : the tail, which is long, and greatly forked, 
is alfo white, except the tv/o outfide feathers, which 
are black on their exterior webs ; but in flying, 
thefe forks are frequently clofed fo as to look like a 
fingle feather. The upper part of the plumage is 
