[134] “Length 15 inches, expanse 32, flexure 10, beak 3, tail of 14 feathers, graduated, the middle pair 5 inches, the outmost 3, middle toe 1⁸⁄₁₀. Beak white, or very pale yellow; feet white; claws black. General plumage white, very silky, especially about the head: bases of crown feathers black. Upper neck, back, rump, and wing-coverts marked with cross, black, arcuated bars. Beneath each eye two black lines, which passing over the eye, meet at the back of the head. Tail, shafts and tips black. Five first quills have the outer edges and shafts black; the remaining primaries and secondaries, bluish; tertiaries chiefly black, with white edges, forming a black spot in each wing. Feet far behind.” (Rob. _abridged_.) The bird which Robinson has described (MSS. ii. 124,) in the terms quoted below, is doubtless to be referred to this species, though from the shortness of the tail-feathers, and the colour of the beak and feet, I presume it to have been an immature specimen. He describes its habits as resembling those of the Terns: it was brought to him alive, having been knocked off a fish-pot-buoy; he kept it almost a week, feeding it with the offal of fish, which it ate greedily. When it attempted to walk, it spread its wings, and waddled along with much difficulty, which arose not only from the backward position of its legs, but also from their shortness and weakness. Sometimes it made a chattering noise, like the Belted Kingfisher, and it had another cry, not unlike that of a Gull. It would bite, upon occasion, very hard. The head and neck were very big in proportion. It is mentioned to me as one of the constant frequenters of the Pedro Kays. +Fam.+—LARIDÆ. (_The Gulls._) CRESTED TERN.[135] _White Egg-Bird._ _Thalasseus Cayanus._ _Sterna Cayana_, +Gmel.+—Aud. pl. 273. _Thalasseus Cayanus_, +Boie+. [135] Length 21 inches, expanse 45, flexure 14¹⁄₂, tail 7¹⁄₄, rictus 3⁴⁄₁₀, tarsus 1⁴⁄₁₀, middle toe 1³⁄₁₀. Two cæca ¹⁄₃ inch long.