LARID-E— THE GULLS AND TERNS. 249 



Only one species of this genus belongs properly to North 

 America, although a single specimen of a European species was 

 taken at Lake Koshkonong, Wisconsin, by the late Professor 

 Thure Kumlien, July 5, 1873. 



The common North American bird has been generally referred 

 to the European II. nigra (Linn.), but is so different that little, 

 if any, harm would be done by considering it a distinct species.* 



Hydroclielidon nigra surinamensis (Gmel.) 



BLACK TERN. 

 Popular synonyms. American Black Tern; Short-tailed Tern ; Golondrina de mar (Mexico). 



Stoma surinamensis Gmel. S. N. i, pt. ii, 1788, 604. 



Hydrochelidon surinamensis Bonap. Compt. Rend. 1856,773. 

 Hydrochelidon lariformis surinamensis Ridgw. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 693. 

 Eydrochelidon nigra surinamensis Stejn. Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus. Vol. 5, 1882, 40.— B. B. 

 & It. Water B. N. Am. ii, 1884, 318— A. O. U. Check List, 1886. No. 77— Ridgw. Man. N. 

 Am. B. 1887, 17 

 Sternaplumbea Wixs. Am. Orn. vii, 1813, 83. pi. 83 (young). 



Hydrochelidon plun.bea Lawk, in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858. 864.— Baird, Cat. N. Am. B. 



1859, No. 695. 



Sterna nigra Svf. &Rich. P. B.-A. ii, 1831, 415 (nee Linn.).— Nutt. Man. ii, 1834, 282— Aud. 



Orn. Biog. iii, 1835, 593; v. 1839. 642, pi. 180; Synop. 1839, 320; B. Am. vii, 1844, 116. pi. 438. 



Hydroch \ra (part) Saunders, V. Z. S. 1878. 642. 



Eydrochelidon fissipes (part) Coues, Proc. Acad. Nat. S.-i. Phila. 1S62, 554 (nee Sterna 



lisstjjes Linn.); Key, 1872, 323; Check iJsf, is':;. No. 575. 

 Eydrochelidon lariformis (part) Coues, B. X. W. L874, 704(nec Rallus lariformis Linn.); 

 2d Check List, 1882, No. 806— Ridgw. Orn. 40th Par. 1877, 640. 



Hab. The whole of temperate North America, and portions "f tropical America; north 

 to Alaska, south to Chili: breeds nearly throughout its North American range, except along 

 Atlantic and Gulf coasts. 



Sp. Chap. Adult, in summer: Head, neck, and lower parts sooty black, the head and 

 neck, especially above, nearly pure black; anal region and crissum pure white. Entire 

 upper parts uniform plumbeous, the border <>f the wing, from the shoulders to the carpo- 

 metacarpal .loint. while. Lining of the wing light plumbeous-gray. Bill deep blaok, the 

 rictus lake-red, the interior of the mouth pinkish; iris dark brown; legs and feet purplish 

 dusky. Adult, in winter: Head, neck, and lower parts pure white ; orbital and auricular 

 regions dusky; crown and occiput dark grayish, the feathers bordered with paler. Upper 

 parts as in the summer plumage, but rather paler plumbeous. Young, >ir.<f plumage: Very 

 similar to the winter plumage, but s rapulars, interscapulars, and tertials tipped with raw 

 umber brown, the anterior lesser wing coverts dusky, the orown, occiput, ami upper part 

 .,f the nape dusky, ami the entire Bides washed with plumbeous. Downy young: Above, 

 deep, sofl umber-brown, with a tew coarse, Irregular marblings of biaek; forehead, crown, 

 throat, and chest more Booty brown, without markings; side- of the head (including l 

 dull whitish; abdomen white centrally, pale sooty graj i-h exteriorly.i 



i From No." Springs, Cal., Julj 37, i-:;. H. \v. Hbnshav 



—3 



