C. STERNA. 47 



Shufeldt, Auk, 1891, p. 366 (fossil remains: Oregon) ; Mhoads, Pr. 



Philad. Acad. 1892, p. 101 (Texas). 

 Sterna havelli, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. p. 122 (1839) : id. B. N. Amer. 



pi. 409. fig. 1 ; id. Hynop. p. 318 (1839) ; id. B. N. Amer. 8vo ed. 



viii. p. 103, pi. 434 (1844) ; Gray, Gen. B. iii. p. 6;'59 (1846) ; 



Baird, Cass., l^- Laxur. B. N. Amer. p. 861 (1858) ; Coues, Pr. 



Philad. Acad. 18(52, p. 543 (refers it to S.forsteri) ; Gray, Hand-l. 



B. iii. p. lis, no. 11028 (1871). 

 GelochelidoD liavelli {Aud.), Boie, Isis, 1844, p. 187 ; Bp. C. R. xlii. 



p. 772 (1856). 



Adult male in lreedinf/-j>lumage. Forehead, upper half of lores, 

 crown, and nape deep sooty black ; the nuchal feathers not prolonged 

 into a crest; mantle pearl-grey ; tips of secondaries white ; primaries 

 pale grey when new and frosted, blackish when worn, shafts white, 

 webs on both sides grey, the " wedge " greyish white, inner margins 

 dark grey ; rump white ; tail-feathers grey, except the streamers, 

 which have white outer webs ; undcrparts pure white ; biU rather 

 stout, orange-yellow, blackish for nearly its terminal half, the 

 extreme tips yellowish ; tarsi and toes orange-red. Total length 

 14 to 15 inches, culmcn 1-7, wing 10-5, tail 7 to 8, depth of fork 

 about 4-25, tarsus 1, middle toe with claw I'l. 



Female. Similar, perhaps a trifle smaller, with less prolonged 

 streamers. 



Adult in winter. Similar, except that the head and neck are 

 greyish white, with black streaks, which become confluent before 

 and behind the eye ; tail-streamers less prolonged ; bill blackish ; 

 feet yellowish hrown. 



Immature. Like the above, but with a varying amount of dark 

 brown on the inner secondaries and rectrices. 



Young even browner, and tawny on the nape. 



Downy nestling. Warm dark buff, thickly marked with black ; 

 underparts lighter, but decidedly darker than in most nestlings of 

 allied Terns. 



Eah. Greater part of ]!^orth America, from the Fur Countries to 

 Southern Texas (breeding) : Florida, Mexico, and Guatemala in 

 winter ; once obtained at sea between 200-300 miles from Pernam- 

 buco (Salv.-Godm. CoU.). Breeds in grassy marshes. 



a. 2 pull. sk. Cobb's Isl., 'V'irginia, July ( W. II. Saunders CoU. 



Brewster). 



b. PuU. sk. Eepaza Marsh, Va., July {R. H. Saunders CoU. 



Rid (J way). 



c. S ad. sk. Cobb'.s Isl., Va. {R. Ridgicay). H. Saunders CoU. 



d. c? ad. ; e. Cobb's Isl. Va., Aug. {H. W. Salvin-Godman Coll. 

 Pull. ; /, y. Ilenshaw). 



6,h. $ juv. 

 sk. 

 i, k. Ad. sk. Caper's Isl., S. Carolina, April, Salvin-Godman CoU. 



May {J. H. Batty). 

 I, m. Ad. sk. Grass Lake, Lake Co., Illinois, Salvin-Godman CoU. 



June (E. Jr. A^e/son). 

 n. (5 ad. sk. Cedar Keys, Florida, Feb. {S. Salvin-Godman CoU. 

 W. Henshaic). 



