630 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NEW JERSEY. 



14 to 17 inches; wings, 10 inches; tail, OJ to 8| inches, forked 

 for 4 to 5 inches. Breeds south to Massachusetts. 



S. dougalli, Montag. (pctmr/isea— Abbott's Catalogue.) Roseate Tern. 



Both webs of outer tail feathers all white ; in summer, silvery- 

 gray above, pinkish below (fades to white in dried specimens) ; 

 top of head black; bill black, with red base; feet red (in life); 

 in winter, less black on fore part of head. 



" This species visits us during the suromer, from the South. 

 Is always a rare bird in New Jersey, but is more common during 

 some summers than others." 



S. fuliginosa, Gmel. (portlandica, Ridg.) Sooty Tern. 



Mantle and middle tail feathers blackish, outer ones white ; 

 forehead, sides of head and lower parts white ; upper parts, bill, 

 and feet black; less white in young. Length, 15 to 17 inches; 

 wings, 12 inches; tail, 7 inches, forked nearly half way. A 

 tropical species. 



" Rare. Is seldom seen at any time, and only during the 

 summer, oif the coast. Does not breed in the State." 



S. antillarum, Less, [stiperdliaris, freiiata.) Least Tern. 



In summer, pearl gray above ; white below, and a crescent on 

 forehead ; top of head and lateral stripes black ; bill yellow, 

 with dark tip ; feet orange yellow ; in winter, yellows paler, and 

 black of head gives way to white anteriorly. Length, 9 inches ; 

 wings, 6J inches ; tail, 3| inches, forked half way. 



"Arrive about middle of April. Breed, depositing eggs on 

 the sand. Ascend our rivers. Disappear by October 1st." 



HYDROOHBLIDON, Boie. 



nigra, var. surinamensis, Gmel. {plumbea.) American Black Tern. 

 Toes not full webbed ; head and lower parts all black in sum- 

 mer, white in winter; upper parts leaden, more brown in young. 

 Length, 10 inches; wings, 8 inches; tail, 3i inches, forked less 

 than 1 inch. 



" Very abundant during the summer, not only about our sea- 

 board, ])ut inland. Are more numerous inland, about Raritan 

 Bay, than in the Delaware. Breed in the salt meadows about 



