280 WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



SILVERY TERN. 



(Sterna argenUa, Prince Maxim, de Neuwied, Voyage, vol. i. p. 67. 

 Temm. Man. d'Orn. ii. p. 754. [in a note.] Sterna ininuta, Wil- 

 son, (nee Lin.) vii. p. 80. pi. 60. fig. 2. Bonap. Synops. No. 288. 

 Phil. Museum, No. 3505.) 



Sp. CiiARACT. — Bill moderate, sulphur yellow and black at tip; 

 crown black ; front white ; the 2 first quills and their shafts black, 

 except a broad white stripe on their inner webs ; tail moderately 

 forked, of the same color with the back ; tarsus yellow, about half 

 an inch long ; webs of the toes entire ; nails long and acute. 

 Length 9^ inches. — Young- appearing soiled and spotted, and 

 with the black of the head obsolete. 



The Silvery Tern, apparently of Temminck, and the 

 Lesser Tern of Wilson, is an inhabitant of the American 

 continent, and was first detected as distinct from the Euro- 

 pean species, by Prince de Neuwied, in Brazil. In the 

 United States it arrives from its hybernal retreat later than 

 the Common Tern, and is not met Avith so far to the north, 

 being unknown in the Canadian fur countries. They are, 

 however, common in the Middle and New England States, 

 being frequently seen coasting along the shores, or over 

 pools and salt marshes, in quest of the insects and small 

 shrimps, which constitute their favorite fare ; they also 

 occasionally dart down upon small fish and fry, hovering, 

 suspended in the air, for a moment over their prey, like so 

 many small hawks, and with equal promptness dashing 

 headlong into the water after it, seizing it with the bill, as 

 the feet are incapable of prehension. It sometimes makes 

 extensive incursions along the river courses, and has been 

 shot several hundred miles from the sea, its principal place 

 of residence. 



In the latter end of May or beginning of June, the fe- 

 male commences laying, the eggs, 3 or 4 in number, are 



