NATATOEES — LARIDiE — STERNA. 303 



THE SANDWICH TERN. 



Sterna cantiaca. 



plate cxxiv. fig. 274. 



(CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) 



Sterna cantiaca, Gmelin. S. lioysii ? Montagu, Orn. Diet. Suppl. Temminck, Vol. 2, p. 735. 

 5. cantiaca. Acdubon, B. of A. Vol. 7, p. 87, pi. 431. Ndttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 276. 



Characteristics. Bill long, black ; the point yellow. Feet short and black. Quill-shafts 

 white. Tail deeply forked. Summer, crown black. Winter, hind 

 head only marked with black. Length, 15-0. 



Description. Bill robust, nearly straight, compressed, 2*0 long and 0-4 deep at the base : 

 mental angle slight, nearly medial. Tail deeply forked ; the outer feathers acute, 1*3 longer 

 than the adjoining ones and 3-0 longer than the middle pair. Tarsus TO. Naked portion of 

 the tibia - 5. Nail of the middle toe incurved, dilated on its inner edge: hind nail short. 

 Webs deeply concave. 



Color. Crown, occiput, and hind neck deep bluish black. Back, scapulars and wing- 

 coverts light pearl-grey. Back of the neck, a line from the nostrils beneath the eyes, rump, 

 tail, chin, sides of the neck and all beneath pure white. Quills deep grey-brown, approach- 

 ing to black at the tips : inner webs bordered with white. Legs black, tinged with reddish. 

 Bill black ; its point yellow. 



Length, 15-5- 16-0. 



The Sandwich Tern has been little noticed on our coast, probably on account of its strong 

 resemblance to other species, particularly to the Common Tern and the Roseate Tern. Mr. 

 Audubon observed them breeding in Florida. Eggs yellowish grey, spotted and blotched with 

 pale blue and reddish. It is at present known to occur in Texas, Florida and New- York, 

 but its geographical range is yet unknown. It is found on both sides of the Atlantic. 



