226 BULtLETIN 113, UNITED STATES NATIONAL, MUSEUM. 



for speed and ease in cutting the air, Mr. Montague Chamberlain 

 (1891) says: 



Its strength of wing and skill enable it to outride the severest storms, and 

 flocks of these birds may be seen dipping into crested waves or skimming 

 over angry breakers to seize the prey that may be brought to the surface by 

 the gale. 



Intermediate in size between the two large terns and the several 

 smaller species, it seems to combine the strength and vigor of the 

 former with the activity of the latter. It may be distinguished 

 from either by its shape and by its long, slender bill. The yellow tip 

 of its bill is quite conspicuous at short range. 



Its cry is short, sharp, loud, and shrill. Audubon (1840) refers to 

 it as " sharp, grating, and loud enough to be heard at the distance of 

 half a mile." Morris (1903) calls it " a loud, hoarse, and grating cry 

 or scream, likened to the syllables ' pink ' or ' cree.' " Yarrell (1871) 

 noted the syllables " kirhitt, kirhitt." When disturbed on its breed- 

 ing grounds, or when feeding in flocks, it is very noisy. 



Winter. — Throughout the southern portions of its breeding range 

 in this country, on the southern Florida and Gulf coasts, Cabot's 

 tern is a permanent resident, its numbers being increased by the 

 addition of migrants from more northern points. The species with- 

 draws in the fall from its summer resorts, on the coast of Virginia, 

 the Carolinas, and northern Florida, to its winter home in the Baha- 

 mas, the Gulf of Mexico, and the coasts of Central and South 

 America. Here it spends the winter roaming about the outer 

 islands and sand bars in company with other terns and gulls, follow- 

 ing schools of fish or resting in flocks on the sand. At this season it 

 is highly gregarious and quite shy. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Breeding range. — Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Virginia (North- 

 ampton County) to British Honduras (Saddle Cay). Some of the 

 Bahamas (Acklin and Kagged Islands, Samana Keys, etc.), and 

 West Indies (from Cuba to Dominica). 



Winter range. — From the Bahamas and Florida southward 

 through the West Indies and along the Atlantic coast of South 

 America to southern Brazil (Iguape). From the coasts of Louisiana 

 and Texas southward, along the Central American coast to Colombia 

 (Cartagena). And on the Pacific coasts of Oaxaca (San Mateo) 

 and Guatemala (Chiapam). 



Spring migration. — Birds depart from coast of Brazil during 

 March and April and first arrivals reach South Carolina, Capers 

 Island, April 9. 



