644 BIRDS OF SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS. 



Genus GELOCIIELIDON Bituii.M. 



7. Gelochelidou iiilotica (IIasklq.)- Gull-billi'il Tern. 



" Observ^ed on the coast of the bay March 16. A set of three eggs 

 was taken, together with the male bird on liird Island, May 23." (Han- 

 (jock.) Senuett found it {Stcnia anglica) quite common about Nueces 

 Bay and Corpus Christi Pass. 



Gonus STERNA LiXN.EUS. 



8. Sterna tschegrava Lepkcii. Caspian Tern. 



Hancock saw the Caspian Tern about Corpus Christi Bay on March 

 IG, and Scnnett notes it as occurring all along the coast from Galveston 

 to Padre Island. On March 27 he observed great numbers of them about 

 one of the bird islands in Corpus Christi Bay, where they were mating 

 and preparing to breed. 



9. Sterna maxima Bodd. Royal Tern. 



Found in great numbers about the head of Padre Island by Seunett. 

 They breed in that locality. 



10. sterna sandvicensis acuflavida CCabot). Cabot's Tern. 



Sennett found this Tern common on the coast side of Corpus Christi 

 Bay, where they breed. 



11. Sterna forsteri Nutt. Forstcr's Tern. 



Both Sennett and Hancock found this bird common about Corpu.s 

 Christi Bay. 



12. Sterna hirundo Linn. The Common Tern. 



Dresser procured one specimen of the Common Tern at San Antonio 

 in May, 1864. It is not recorded from Corpus Christi. 



13. Sterna faligiuosa Gmel. Sooty Tern. 



Hancock ob.scrved this Tern about the reef near Corpus Christi on 

 March 26. 



Family KYNCHOPID.E. Skimmers. 



Genus RYNCHOPS LiNX.EUS. 



14. Rynchops nigra Linn. Blaek Skiuiincr. 



According to Sennett the Skimmer is common on the shallows and 

 Hats about Corpus Christi Bay during the latter part of March, when 

 they were in transitional plumage. He was informed that they bred 

 there in great numbers later in the season, and Hancock obtained a set 

 of five eggs on May 25. 



