LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS 



65. Royal Tern. Sterna maxima. 



Range. — Temperate North and South America, 

 breeding in the United States locally from Texas 

 and the Gulf States northward to the northern 

 boundary of the United States. 



The Royal Terns nest in great numbers on the 

 coasts and islands on the South Atlantic and 

 Gulf States and in the marshes of southern Texas. 



\ 



iN 



% 





\; • 



J 



.+ . ^. 



Grayish buff 



Like the former species they lay two or three 

 eggs in a hollow on the bare sand. The eggs arc 

 the same size but differ in being more pointed 

 and having a lighter ground and with the mark- 

 ings more bold and distinct. Size 2.60x1.70. 



()(i. Elegant Tern. Sterna elegans. 



Range. — Pacific Coast of South and Central 



America ; north to California in summer. 



A similar bird to the Royal Tern, but easily ( '.niM'iiie,i Tern 



< laspia ii i 



Royal Tern 





Cream color 



distinguished by its smaller size, 

 slender bill, ami more graceful 

 form, in the breeding plumage 

 the under parts of these Terns 

 are tinged with rosy, which 

 probably firsl gave the birds 



their name. They breed on the 

 coasts and islands of .Mexico and 



Central America, placing their 

 eggs on the sand; They are he 

 lieved t<> lay bul a sinuie egg, 



like that of the Royal Tern, hut 



smaller. Size _.4o x 1.411. Data- 

 Honduras, Central America. 

 June A 1899. Single egg laid mi 

 the Bands beach. 



51 



