304 NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



THE ROSEATE TERN. 



Sterna dougalli. 



plate cxxvii. fig. 286. 



(CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) 



Sterna dougalli Montagu, Orn. Diet. Suppl. (figure). Temminck, Vol. 2, p. 738. Aiidobox, B. of A. Vol. 7, 

 p. 112, pi. 437. Nuttall, Manual Ornitb. Vol. 2, p. 278. Kirtland, Zool. Ohio, p. 166. 

 Giracd, Birds of Long island, p. 351. 



Characteristics. Bill long, slender, black, orange at the base. Crown and hind part of the 

 neck black. Quill-shafts black. Tail deeply forked, longer than the 

 tips of the folded wings. Tarsus - 9. Length, 14 »5. 



Description. Bill nearly straight, very slender towards the tip ; the upper mandible some- 

 what longest, 2 - in length, - 3 deep at the base. Tail deeply forked ; outer feathers very 

 acute, 1*8 longer than the adjoining one and 3" 3 longer than the middle pair, and extending 

 1 ' 3 beyond the tips of the closed wings. Hind toe exceedingly small, and barely touching 

 the ground. 



Color. Bill brownish black, deep reddish at the base. Feet dark reddish. Crown and 

 elongated occipital feathers black ; this extends low down on the back of the neck, where it 

 becomes dilated. Upper parts pearl-grey. Outer webs of the three first quills brownish 

 black, margined with the same along the shafts on the inner webs. Under parts white, more 

 or less tinged with faint roseate, Tail white. 



Length, 14-0-15-0. 



The roseate hue on this Tern is not always obvious, and soon becomes lost in cabinet spe- 

 cimens. It is not common on this coast, or at least has been little observed. Mr. Nuttall 

 has found it on the coast of Massachusetts, and Mr. Audubon discovered it breeding on the 

 Florida Keys. It is probably a tropical species, extending its northern migrations through 

 the interior. Dr. Kirtland has observed it in Ohio. It is common to Europe and America. 



