SANDWICH TERN. 17 



DESCRirriON OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 ■^/y.'y'- placed on tlie gnum'l in sandy places, two to tliree in numlier, rather pyrifurm in sliape, varyin:; from wliite to 

 greenish-buff in color, spotted and bloti-lied irregularly witli liruwn, umber, and lilac of varying shades, and liavinganoc- 

 Ciisiunal tin^e of yellowish. Dimensions from I70sd"T(l to r75x'J'7,'). 



IIAIilTS. 

 The Royal Terns ure coiuinon on the liirncr bikes ami rlvei" throughout the interior of 

 Florida, as well as on the coast, during winter, but as spring approaches, they retire to the 

 sea-shore to breed. The eggs are deposited about the first of June and are ])laccd on the 

 naked sand. These liirdsare very shy at all times; even when breeding, Ihiy will inst.aut- 

 ly leave the immediate vicinity when it is approached, Itut like all other Terns, they arc 

 always attracted by the cries of a wounded comrade, and at such times, appear to lose all 

 fear, for if repeatedly fireil at, the survivors will continue to hover aboui, uttering pierc- 

 ing cries. The Royal Terns gather by thousands on the .sand bars among the keys, at low 

 tide, but rise at high water to fish, at which craft they are very expert, diving downward 

 with the speed of an arrow to secure their prey. Mr. Brewster and myself secured two 

 birds which were evidently breeding, at Nantucket, about the first of July, some five or six 

 years ago, but this is be3'ond their usual range. 



STERNA CANTIACA. 

 Sandwich Tern. 

 Sterna canltaca Gm., Syst. Nat., I; 1788, 606. 

 DESCRIPTION. 

 Sp. Ch. Form, .slender. Size, rather lar^e. Coujit. Adult. Above light pearly blue, with the four first primaries 

 dusky -gray on outer webs, and in a narrow line next the shaft on inner, the remainder of which is white. Tail and cov- 

 ert.^, and under parts, wliite. Crown, occiput and nape, lilack. Rill, black, with terminal fourth, yellow, iris, brown, and 

 feet, black. Winter adult and Younj. Similar but pahu-, with m.jrp or less wliite on top of head. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Known by the white tail and yellow terminal fuurtli to slender, black bill. Distributed asa constant resident in south- 

 ern Florida. Accidental, in summer, as far north as Jla-^sachusctts. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Average iiiea.suremenLs of specimens from Florida. Length, 15'3'J; stretch, 33"38; wing, 12'25; tail, 5-75; bill, 2 12; 

 taivus, 105. Longest specimen, 15-75; greatest e.ittent of wing, 33'75; longest wing, 1250; tail, 6-00: bill, 225; tarsus, 

 1 10. Shortest specimen, 15 00; smallest extent of wing, 33-0:1; shortest wing, 12-00; tail, 550; bill, 2-(i(i; tarsus, I'OO. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS .\ND EGGS. 

 F.iii/s, placed on the gi-ound in sandy places, two or three in number, rather oval in form, varying from white to buff 

 in color, spotted and blotched with brown, umber, bluish, and reddish. Dimensions from 1-25x2 MO to 1 30x2- 15. 



HABITS. 



I found the beautiful Sandwich Terns common all winter among the Florida Keys and 

 they were not at all shy; consequently, I procured as many as I wanted. They breed on 

 a small, sandy key off Cape Sable, late in June, placing the eggs on the naked ground. I 

 have seen specimens of the Sandwich Tern, wliich were taken on Cape Cod, but consider 

 the species very rare so far north. 



STERNA FLUVIATILIS. 

 Common Tern. 

 Sterna Jluvialilis Nai'M., Isis; 1819. 

 DESCKH'TION. 

 Sp. Cii. Size, medium. Form, rather slender. Bill, slender. Color. Adult. Back and wings, as!:y-blue, with 

 primaries dusky on outer webs and white on inner two thirds of inner. Rump, upper coverts, and tail, wiiitc, with outer 

 webs of last, ashy, which becomes dusky on extreme outer welis. Crown and occijiut sooty-black. Beneath, pale ashy- 

 blue, becoming white on under wing and tail coverts. Iris, brown, feet, red, bill, red, dusky at tip. In winter, similar, 

 l)ut paler, with crown more or less white. Young, similar to winter adult, but are titiged with yellowish above where tlio 

 feathers arc edged with whitish ; rump and upper tail coverts, bluish ; shouldei-s, dusky. White heneatli; bill, black. 



