SANDWICH TERN. 277 



of the United States. In 183*2, he, with his party, obtained 

 a considerable number of specimens in summer plumage, 

 during the month of May, in East Florida, and they were 

 particularly abundant in the vicinity of Indian Key, about 

 30 miles from Cape Sable. In this place, in the usual 

 manner of the genus, they breed together in large com- 

 panies. 



According to Temminck, they deposit their eggs on the 

 sea beach, in the low meadows which are submerged in 

 winter ; and often also, according to the convenience of 

 the locality, upon the shelves of naked rocks. The eggs, 

 2 or 3, are white or whitish, sprinkled with large and small 

 blackish spots, or marbled with brown and black. Like 

 most of the species, they feed on living fish, and it has all the 

 manners and habits of the Common Tern. 



The Sandwich Tern is near upon 18 inches in length. In the 

 winter plumage, the front and summit of the head are white ; but 

 barred towards the hind head, with very small black spots; the long 

 feathers of the occiput black, but fringed with white ; a black 

 crescent in advance of the eyes. Nape, top of the back, all the 

 lower parts, and the tail brilliant white. Back, scapulars and wing 

 coverts very pale bluish-ash. Quills velvety ash, all of them bor- 

 dered by a large band of white. Bill deep black, ochre-yellow at 

 the point. Iris blackish. Feet black, beneath ochre-yellow. 



The spring and nuptial plumage ; with the front, summit of the 

 head, and long feathers of the occiput, deep black, without any 

 spots. Fore part of the neck and breast, rose white, more or less 

 lively and brilliant, according to age and the epoch of the moult : 

 the rest as in the winter plumage. 



In the young of the year, the white and black colors of the head 

 and nape are blended with very pale rufous tints. All the parts be- 

 low white. Upper part of the back and scapulars whitish rufous, 

 transversely lined with blackish-brown bands. The larger scapulars 

 widely bordered with brown ; wing coverts tipped with semicircular 

 bands. Secondaries and primaries blackish-ash, edged and tipped 

 with white. Bill livid black, slenderly tipped with yellowish. Tail 

 feathers cinereous at the base, blackish beyond, and terminated with 

 white. 



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