A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman.
- George Montagu
- Date:
- 1866
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman. Source: Wellcome Collection.
369/440 page 341
![itson, csxxiii. 480.] Sterna Hirunclo, Lin. Syst, i. p. 2d7, 2 ; amel. Syst. ii. p. 000 ; Ind. Orn. ii. p. 807,15. Nmvia, Lin. Syst. i. p. 228; Gmel. Syst. i. p. 009; Bris. vi. p. 210,-0, t. 20, f. 2; Id. 8vo, ii. p. 418. Sterna Bo3’sii, Ind. Orn. p. 800, B. Hi- runJo marina, Itaii Syn. p. lOl, A. 1; Will. p. 208, t. 08. Sterna major, Bris. vi. p. 203, 1, t. 19, f. 1; Ib. 8vo, ii. P--flO. La grande Hirondelle de mer, Buf. viii. p. 331, t. 27. La Guifette, Buf. viii. p. 339; PI. Enl. 924. Sea Swallow, Albin, ii. t. 88; Will. Angl. p. 352. Sandwich Tern, Lath. Syn. vi. p. 358, A. Clovenfooted Gull, Al- bin, ii. t. 82. Kamtschatkan Tern, Arct. Zool. ii. p. 525 ; Phil. Trans. Ixii. p. 421; Bewick, Br. Birds, ii. p. 207. Common or Greater Tern, Br. Zool. ii. No. 254, t. 90 ; Ib. fol. 144, t. L.*; Lath. Syn. vi. p. 361, 14; Lewin, Br. Birds, vi. t. 204; Wale. Syn. i. t. 119; Don. Br. Birds, i. t. 23; Pult. Gat. Dorset, p. 18; Bewick, Br. Birds, [ii.] t. p. 199. Provincial: Gull-Teazer; Kirmew; Picket; Tarney, or Pictarne; Tarrack, or TaiTet; Rittock, or Rippock; Spurre; Scraye. — The weight of this spe- cies is about four ounces and a quarter; length fourteen inches. Bill two inches and a' half long, of a crimson-colour, black at the end, and very shai-p-pointed; irides dusky. The top of the head, taking in the eyes and nape, black; beneath the eyes, and from thence to the nostrils, the neck, and all the under parts white; the back and wings ai'e ash-colour; quUls grey; the outer ones darkest, shafts white; tail much forked, and white, except the outer web of the exterior feather, -which is black; legs crimson; claws black. Of the four species of Terns which visit this country in spring, this is the most plentiful. It frequents our flat, sandy, or shingly shores, preferring the latter; amongst which it lays three or four eggs, without any nest. These are about the size of a Pigeon’s, of an olivaceous-brown, blotched and spotted with dusky. It is found in great abun- dance on part of the Sussex and Kentish coasts, particularly about Winchelsea, and from thence to Dungeness; is a noisy, restless bir-d, constantly on wing in search of insects and small fish, after which it darts into the water with great force, seizes, and instantly returns ; for though it is web-footed is never seen to swim or dive. It is commonlyj known by the name of Sea Swallow, from its actions on wing being similar to that bird. On the south coast of Devonshire is called Gull- Teazer, as it is frequently seen to pursue and persecute the lesser Gulls tiU they disgorge, which it dexterously catches before it reaches the water. 'Whether this property is common to the other species we have not been able to ascertain ; but in general their manners and habits are very similar; none of which have ever been observed to settle on the water. This is sometimes, on its first anival, found skim- ming over fresh-water rivers and lakes for a few days ; but we do not find they breed in such places in England. It is found in most of the northern parts of Europe during the breeding season, even as far as Greenland and Spitzbergen, as well as North America, where in New England it is called Mackarel Gull; and at Hudson’s Bay is known by the name of Black-head. Mr. Pennant calls it the Greater Tern. The young birds are mottled with brown and white, and are most probably the Brown Tern described by Ray and other ornithologists. Supplement. — Several young birds of this species were sent to us by our late Mend Mr. Biyer, of Weymouth, which had the head partly black; the back mot- tled with brown ; the wings partly brown, intermixed with ash-colour; and the un- der parts white, with the tail nearly even at the end. A specimen from Senegal, in Africa, in the collection of Mr. 'Vaughan, corresponds partly with the above in plum- age, and is, without doubt, of the same species, but farther advanced, being a me- dium between this and one hereafter de- scribed. It will be observed by the criti- cal Ornithologist that this species, in its first or nestling feathers, so nearly answers the description given of the Brown Tern, that we think their synonyms should be inseparable. It is unfortunate for Science when obscure accounts are handed down to posterity by respectable authors who claim no small share of deference. But here it does not appear that Mr. Ray ever had seen the bird he denominated Sterna fusca, but that the short account of the bird was communicated to him by a friend, the Rev. Mr. Johnson, Vicar of Brignal, in Yorkshire, who died in the year 1695; so that it is high time this ambiguous bird should be identified in the yoirng of the Common Tern above described. Mr. H. Boys assures us this species is common in Scotland, especially in the Isle of May, in the Frith of Forth, where it is called Pic- tame, and where it is esteemed a good relish when split and broiled, and their eggs excellent when boiled hard and eaten cold. Extends to the Orkney and Zetland Islands, where we are assured by Mr. Fleming they are known by the several names of Tarrock, 'Parrick or Tai'ret, Rit- tock or Rippock. The plumage of the ’Terns, like that of the Gulls, difl’ors so much between the infant and adult state, that it is extremely dillicult to assign to each their proper synonyms: Indeed, so perplexing is the genus from this circum-](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28089935_0369.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
