BLACK TERN. 



short-tailed tern. 



Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis. 



Char. Upper parts, deep slate gray ; head, neck, and under parts 

 black ; lower tail-coverts white ; bill black ; legs and feet dusky or red- 

 dish brown. In winter the black is mostly replaced by white, the crown 

 gray. Length about gVz inches. 



Nest. A slight hollow in the muddy soil of a reedy marsh, sometimes 

 sparsely lined with grass ; often placed on a platform of floating herbage, 

 and then is made of reeds or coarse sedges firmly constructed. 



Eggs. 3; ground color varies from grayish buff to yellowish brown, 

 sometimes tinged with olive ; profusely marked with several shades of 

 brown and purplish gray ; average size about 1.40 X i.oo. 



This is another aquatic bird common to the northern regions 

 of both continents, extending its residence to the Hmits of the 

 Arctic Circle, and breeding in the fur countries of the interior 

 upon the borders of lakes and in swamps. It is also very 

 common in Holland and in the great marshes of Hungary, and 

 has been observed round the salt lakes of Siberia and Tartary. 



