the *Tern*; a genus of birds arranged under the order of *palmipedes*. The marks of this genus are a straight, slender, pointed bill, linear nostrils, a slender and sharp tongue, very long wings, a small back toe, and a forked tail. There are 25 species, according to Dr Latham; the cappia, cayana, surinamensis, fuliginosa, africana, stolida, philippina, simplex, nilotica, boyi, striata, vittata, fradicea, pilcata, hirundo, pavana, cinerea, alba, minuta, fenensis, australis, metopoleucos, fuscipes, nigra, and obscura. Three of these only are found in Great Britain; the hirundo, minuta, and fuscipes.

1. The *hirundo*, common tern, or great sea-fowl, weighs four ounces one-quarter; the length is 14 inches; the breadth 30; the bill and feet are of a fine crimson; the former tipped with black, slender, and sharp-pointed; the crown, and hind part of the head, black; the throat, and whole under side of the body, white; the upper part, and the coverts of the wings, a fine pale grey. The tail consists of 12 feathers; the exterior edges of the three outmost are grey, the rest white; the exterior on each side is two inches longer than the others: in flying, the bird frequently closes them together, so as to make them appear one slender feather.

This is a very common species; frequents our sea-coasts and banks of lakes and rivers during the summer, but most common in the neighbourhood of the sea. It is found also in various parts of Europe and Asia, according to the season; in the summer as far as Greenland and Spitzbergen, migrating in turn to the south of Austria and Greece. It lays three or four eggs about the month of June, of a dull olive colour, an inch and three quarters in length, marked with irregular black spots, intermixed with some others of a smaller size, and lets bright; the little end is almost free from any mark-

ings. These are laid among the grass or moss. The young are hatched in July, and quit the nest very soon after. They are carefully fed by their parents, and fly in about six weeks. This bird appears to have all the actions on the water which the swallow has on land, skimming on the surface, and seizing on every insect which comes in its way; besides which, the moment it spies a fish in the water, it darts into that element, and seizing its prey arises as quickly to the place from which it dipped.

These birds are also found in America; come into New England in May, and go away in autumn, and are called there the mackerel gull. At Hudson's Bay they are known by the name of black-head. They are observed to lay their eggs in small hollows on the shore, sometimes lined with a few leaves. They are often found in great numbers on the islets in the middle of the rivers, and are thought good eating. The natives of Hudson's Bay call them *Kenouch ene ou kegk*. They are bold, not fearing mankind, and in the time of incubation will attack anyone, frequently darting down so as to touch a person's hat, without his giving the least offence.

2. The *minuta*, or smaller sea-fowl, (called by Linnaeus *larus minuta*), weighs only two ounces five grains; the length 8 inches and a half; the breadth 19 and a half. The bill is yellow, tipped with black; the forehead and cheeks white; from the eyes to the bill is a black line; the top of the head and hind part black; the breast and under side of the body clothed with feathers so closely set together, and of such an exquisite rich gloss and so fine a white, that no satin can be compared to it; the back and wings of a pale grey; the tail short, less forked than that of the former, and white; the legs yellow; the irises dusky.—These two species are very delicate, and seem unable to bear the inclemency of the weather on our shores during winter, for we observe that they quit their breeding places at the approach of it, and do not return till spring. The manners, haunts, and food of this species are the same with those of the former; but they are far less numerous.

3. The *fusipes*, or black tern, is of a middle size between the first and second species. The usual length is 10 inches; the breadth 24; the weight two ounces and a half. The head, neck, breast, and belly, as far as the vent, are black; beyond is white; the male has a white spot under its chin; the back and wings are of a deep ash colour; the tail is short and forked; the exterior feather on each side is white; the others ash-coloured; the legs and feet of a dusky red. Mr Ray calls this a *clown-footed gull*, as the webs are depressed in the middle, and form a crecent. These birds frequent fresh waters, breed on their banks, and lay three small eggs of a deep olive colour, much spotted with black. They are found during spring and summer in vast numbers in the Fens of Lincolnshire, make an incessant noise, and feed on flies as well as water insects and small fish. Birds of this species are seen very remote from land. Kalmar saw flocks of hundreds in the Atlantic Ocean, midway between England and America, and a later voyager saw one 240 leagues from the Lizard, in the same ocean.