152 THE NATURALIST'S GUIDE. 



in immature plumage. Its usual habitat is from Texas to 

 Florida and the West Indies. 



274. Sterna hirundo, Linn. — Wilson's Tern. Abun- 

 dant on the coast in summer. Breeds abundantly on the 

 sandy beaches and islands. This species, and also S. ma- 

 croura, are called, by popular writers, " Seamews." They 

 are also called " Tide Gulls " and " Meous." 



275. Sterna macroura, Naum. — Arctic Tern. Abun- 

 dant summer resident. I do not think it winters. Breeds, 

 abundantly along the shore. Found it at Muskegat, breed- 

 ing apart from the other species. There is no difference 

 in the note between this and S. hirundo. 



The descriptions heretofore given of this bird have been 

 meagre, and in many cases erroneous, tending to produce 

 doubt as to its validity as a species. But as the specific 

 characters are well denned, and certain of them so constant 

 as fully to establish its claim as a species, I purpose to 

 give here a full description of it, with a table of measure- 

 ments. 



Sterna macroura, Naum. — Arctic Tern, Red-billed Tern., 



Sterna macroura. Naum., Isis. 1819, 1847. 



" macrura. Lawr., Birds N. Am. 1858, p. 862. 



" macroura Coues, Proceedings Phil. Acad. N. S., Dec., 1862,. 



p. 549. 

 Sterna arctea "Temm , Mar. d'Orn., II., 1820, p. 742." 



" " Bon., Syn. 1828, No 287, p. 354. 



" " Sw. & Rich., F B A., II., 1831, p. 414. 



" " Nutt., Man., II , 1834, p. 275. 



u " Aud., Orn. Biog , III., 1835, p. 296. — Ib. Birds 



Am. VII. 1844, p. 107; PI. CCCCXXIV.* 

 " " Dr H. Bryant, Pro. Boston Soc. of Nat. Hist. VI., 



1858, p. 120. 



Sp. Ch. — Adult. Bill slender, slightly curved ; color, 

 bright carmine. Top of head and hind neck, black. Neck, 

 back, wing-coverts, scapularies, secondaries, breast, and 



* Figures S. hirundo with black tip to bill. 



