402 LARIDA. 
STERNA. 
Sterna, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 227 (1766) ; Saunders, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxv. p. 40 (1896). 
In the genus Sterna, which contains the true Terns, the tail is at least half the 
length of the wing, and shows generally more than this proportion ; the outer tail- 
feathers, which are the longest, are pointed. ‘The tarsus is short, never exceeding the 
middle toe and claw in length. The bill is compressed and slender. 
The genus is cosmopolitan in its range, and includes more than thirty species. 
Mr. Howard Saunders unites, under the generic name Sterna, all the Little Terns 
(Sternula) and the Sooty Terns (Onychoprion). The eggs vary in number from one to 
three, and some of them are very similar to those of Limicole. 
1. Sterna forsteri. 
Sterna forsteri, Nutt. Man. Orn. ii. p. 274, footnote’; Coues, Ibis, 1864, p. 390 *; Salv. Ibis, 1866, 
p. 199°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1871, p. 569*; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 318°; 
Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p.51°; Sumichr. La Nat. v. p. 234"; Baird, Brewer, & Ridgway, 
Water-Birds N. Amer. ii. p. 292°; A. O. U. Check-l. N. Amer. Birds, 2nd ed. p. 24° ; 
Saunders, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxv. p. 46°; Oates, Cat. Eggs Brit. Mus, i. p. 180, t. 13. 
fig. 4, . 
Pil. hiem. Supra margaritacea, pileo toto et collo postico albis; uropygio quoque albo; cauda margaritacea, 
rectricibus extimis albis, intus sordide cineraceis ; alis dorso concoloribus, secundariis albo terminatis ; 
primariis apicem versus nigris, intus albis, rhachidibus albis ; loris, facie laterali et corpore subtus toto 
albis; regione anteoculari et fascia lata postoculari nigris; supercilio postico nigro maculato: rostro 
nigro, apice albicante; pedibus saturate aurantiacis; iride brunnea. Long. tota circa 13:0, ale 9:4, 
caude 5:3, rectrice extima 5°5, culm. 1°6, tarsi 0°9. (Descr. maris adulti ex Corpus Christi, Texas, Mus. 
nostr.) 
Pul. estiv. Supra margaritacea; pileo et nucha, haud cristata, et facie laterali dimidiata nigris, macula 
suboculari nigra; loris et facie laterali cum regione parotica et corpore subtus toto pure albis: rostro 
aurantiaco, apicem versus nigro, apice ipso flavo; pedibus aurantiaco-rubris. Long. tota circa 13-0, 
ale 9-4, rectrice extima 6°8. (Descr. feming adultz ex Corpus Christi, Texas. Mus. nostr.) 
Juv. adultis similis, sed brunneo adumbrata, plumis singulis apicem versus pallide brunnescentibus. 
Hab. North AMERICA generally, breeding from Manitoba southward to Virginia, 
Illinois, Texas, and California 9—WesteRN Mexico !°, Mazatlan (Grayson > §), 
San Mateo, Ventosa Bay, Tehuantepec (Sumichrast®* 10); Guaremaua, Lake of 
Duefias (0. S.2?41°)—Sourn America, off the coast of Pernambuco !°. 
S. forstert is distinguished from the other Terns of medium size, which have the 
forehead black like the crown, by the colour of the long outer tail-feathers, in which 
the outer web is white and the inner one is “ darkish grey,” as Mr. Howard Saunders 
expresses it. 
This species is found in the interior, as well as on the coasts, of North America, 
frequenting grassy marshes ®. In winter it visits Mexico and Guatemala, and was 
found abundantly by Grayson along the shores and esteros of Mazatlan, from October 
to April ®. 
