416 LARIDA. 
Subfam. RH YNCHOPINE.. 
The “ Skimmers,” by which name this subfamily of Terns is usually known, require 
but little characterization, as they are remarkable above all other sea-birds for their 
long scissor-like bill, in which the under mandible greatly exceeds the maxilla in length. 
RHYNCHOPS. 
Rynchops, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 228 (1766). 
Rhynchops, Saunders, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxv. p. 152 (1896). 
The characters of the genus are those of the subfamily. 
Five species are known, of which three are American, one African, and the other 
Indian. They occur on the coasts, but likewise ascend the great streams of the 
tropical countries in which they live to an immense distance, and lay their eggs on the 
sand-banks. 
“1. Rhynchops nigra. 
The Cut Water, Catesby, Nat. Hist. Carol. i. p. 90, t. 90 (1731) *. 
Rhynchops nigra, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 2287; Scl. P.Z.S. 1864, p- 179°; Salv. Ibis, 1865, p. 193° ; 
1866, p. 200°; 1889, p. 379°; Dresser, Ibis, 1866, p. 45"; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 142°; 
Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 318°; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 52*° ; Sumichr. 
La Nat. v. p. 234"; Boucard, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 462°; Nutting, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. vi. 
p- 409"; Baird, Brewer, & Ridgway, Water-Birds N. Amer. ii. p. 192%; Herrera, La Nat. 
(2) i. pp. 188%, 8329*°; A. O. U. Check-l. N. Amer. Birds, 2nd ed. p. 27*7; Saunders, 
Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxv. p. 153"; Oates, Cat. Eggs Brit. Mus. i. p. 200, t. 15. fig. 8". 
Pil. hiem. Supra brunnescenti-nigra, alis nigricantioribus, primariis intimis intus ad apicem albis, secundariis 
intus et ad apicem late albis ; dorsi imi lateribus et supracaudalibus extimis fere albis ; rectricibus albis, 
plus minusve medialiter brunneis; pileo brunneo, postice vix nigricante; regione postoculari quoque 
nigricanti-brunnea; fronte et facie laterali, cum torque collari lato et corpore subtus toto, pure albis; 
tectricibus alarum minimis albis ; subalaribus et axillaribus albis, margine alarum brunneo ; remigibus intus 
cinerascenti-brunneis: rostro corallino, ad apicem nigro; pedibus corallinis ; iride brunnea. Long. tota 
circa 15:0, alee 13-2, caude 4:2, rostro 2°8, tarsi 1-2. (Descr. femine adulte ex Acapam. Mus. nostr.) 
Juv. ptilosi hiemali similis, sed collo postico brunneo albido striolato. 
Pul. estiv. Supra nigerrima, torque albo collari nullo; fronte, facie laterali et corpore subtus toto pure albis: 
rostro rubro, medialiter flavicante, ad apicem nigro; pedibus aurantiaco-rubris ; iride brunnea. 
Long. 
tota circa 16-0, ale 13°6. (Descr. maris adulti ex Corpus Christi. Mus. nostr.) 
flab. Nort America, eastern coast to New Jersey, and casually to the Bay of 
Fundy 17 18.—-Mrxico, Matamoros Lagoon (Dresser’, Berlandier 14), Tampico 
(Berlandier 4, Richardson !8), Valley of Mexico (Herrera 16), city of Mexico 
(White*), Guanajuato (Dugés §), San Blas (Grayson °), Zacatula River (Xantus °), 
coasts of the Gulf of Tehuantepec, San Mateo 10 (Sumichrast), northern 
coasts of Yucatan !?, Rio Lagartos 18, Progreso 18, Cozumel I. & 18 (Gaumer) ; 
