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BRITISH BIRDS. 
THE BLACK TERN. 
( Sterna Jissipes, Lin . — UEpouvantailf BufF.) 
This bird generally measures ten inches in length, 
and twenty-four in breadth, and weighs about two 
ounces and a half. The bill is black, and from the 
tip to the brow is about an inch and a quarter long ; 
the head, neck, breast, and under part, as far as the 
thighs, black ; the lower belly and vent pale ash ; the 
upper parts of the plumage, including the wings and 
tail, are of a dark hoary lead coloured blue ; the tail 
is not greatly forked, nor long, and in most speci- 
mens, the exterior webs of the two outside feathers of 
the tail are white ; the legs and feet crimson, and the 
claws black ; the female does not differ materially in 
her appearance from the male. 
This species, like the rest of the Terns, frequents 
the sea shores in summer, but its habits and manners 
are somewhat different. It does not associate with 
