WATER BIRDS. 59 



black and white or gray; each tail feather with a dusky spot near the end; under parts 

 entirely wliite. Length, 19 to 23 inches; wing, 15 to 17.50; tail, 5.30 to 6.75 (forked for 

 .75 to 1.60 inches); culmen, 2.48 to 3.10. 



20. Royal Tern. Sterna maxima Bodd. (65) 



Synonyms: Cayenne Tern. — Sterna maxima, Boddaert, 1783. — Sterna cayana, Lath.» 

 1790, Nutt., 1834, Aud., 1835.— Sterna regia, Gamb., 1848, Cones, 1872, Baird, 1859. 



Similar in size and general appearance to the Caspian Tern, but separable 

 at gunshot range by the length of the deeply forked tail. The present 

 species is slightly smaller than the Caspian; it also has an occipital crest, 

 and the inner webs of the primaries are black only next the shaft, the re- 

 mainder being pure white, while in the Caspian Tern these webs are entirely 

 gray or slate colored. 



Distribution. — Tropical America, and warmer parts of North Anerica, 

 casually northward to Massachusetts, the Great Lakes and California. 

 West coast of Africa north to Tangiers. 



As shown by the distribution quoted above, this species is much more 

 southern than the Caspian, and we should not expect to find it in Michigan 

 waters except as a straggler. Its right to a place in our fauna rests mainly 

 upon the statement of Mr. Stewart E. White, who says that during his stay 

 on Mackinac Island in the summers of 1889, 1890 and 1891, he examined 

 several specimens, but that it appeared to be more rare than the Caspian 

 Tern (Auk X, 1893, 222). There is a doubtful record of this bird for 

 Milwaukee, Wis., and it has been recorded by one or two observers as seen 

 during migration; but identification under such circumstances is question- 

 able. There is a mounted specimen of an adult in the Barron collection 

 at Niles, without any label, which may have been taken in that vicinity 

 as the present owners claim that all the specimens are local. 



This species nests only at the south, the best known resorts being the 

 Tortugas, off the coast of Florida, certain islands along the Texas coast, 

 and a few islands along the Atlantic shore even as far north as Virginia. 

 The eggs are very similar to those of the Caspian Tern, and average 2.61 

 by 1.78 inches. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Adult in nesting season: Entire top of head, including the occiput, deep black, the 

 occipital feathers lengthened and pointed forming a distinct crest; back and upper surface 

 of wings pale pearl-gray, the upper tail-coverts and tail almost white; under parts pure 

 white. Outer primaries with the inner web slate-colored or black next the shaft, the 

 remainder of the inner web pure white, the line of division very sharp. Bill orange; feet 

 black. Immediately after nesting the forehead and crown become white, only the occipital 

 crest remaining clear black. In winter the plumage is similar, but even the occipital 

 crest becomes mixed with white, and the orange bill becomes paler. Young birds are 

 somewhat like winter adults, but are more or less mottled with brown above, the crest 

 hardly visible, the tail-feathers with grayish brown or dusky tips. 



Length, 18 to 21 inches; wing, 14 to 15; tail, 6 to 8 (forked about one-half); culmen, 

 2.40 to 2.75. 



21. Forster's Tern. Sterna forsteri Nutt. (69) 



Synonyms: HaveU's Tern (Audubon's name for the immature bird). — Sterna forsteri, 

 Nutt., 1834, and most subsequent writers. — Sterna havelli, Aud., 1839. 



Not to be distinguished from either the Common Tern or the Arctic 

 Tern except with specimens in hand. 



