12 EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



75. Sooty Ter^ J /Sterna fuliginosa. (Type, Plate III.) Eggs, 

 1, oval, white, spotted with rounded markings of reddish brown 

 and lilac; 1.45 -|- 1.95 to 1.50 + 2.00. Eggs placed on the 

 rocks, in a nest of sea-weed. Known by the peculiar tinge of 

 the ground-color. Breeds in tropical and sub-tropical regions 

 of North America, on the Tortugas, and on the Bahamas, early 

 in May. 



76. Bridled Teen, /Sterna ancethetus. Eggs, 1, oval, rather 

 whiter than those of No. 75, and more finely spotted, on the 

 average, and smaller in size ; 1.35 -}- 1.85 to 140 -|- 1-90. Eggs 

 placed beneath rocks, no nests. Known from No. 75 by the 

 smaller size. Extralimital ; breeds in tropical regions and the 

 Bahamas, late in May. The bird occurs casually in Florida, 

 but does not breed there. 



77. Black TEny!,iri/drochelido7imffrasuri7iamensis. (Type, 

 Plate II.) Eggs, 3 or 4, varying from greenish to brown, 

 spotted and blotched with irregular markings of brown and 

 umber or lilac; .90 + 1.25 to 1.00 + 1.40. Placed on the 

 ground. Known by the dark color and small size. Breeds 

 from Middle United States, northward. 



78. White-winged Black Tern, Hydrochelidon leucoptera. 

 Eggs, indistinguishable from those of No. 77. Extralimital; 

 breeds throughout the Eastern Hemisphere. One specimen of 

 the bird taken in Wisconsin. 



79. Noddy Tern, Atious stolidus. Eggs, 1, oval, buff, 

 spotted and blotched with paler brown and lilac; 1.42 + 1.80 

 to 1.52' + 2.00. Nests composed of weeds, and placed on 

 rocks or bushes. Breeds in tropical and sub-tropical regions, 

 in May. ■* 



80. Black Skimmer, Rynchops nigra. (Type, Plate II.) 

 Eggs, 3 or 4, oval or spherical, white or yellowish, boldly and 

 handsomely spotted and blotched irregularly with umber and 

 lilac ; 1.35 + 1.65 to 1.40 + 1.98. Known at once by the bold 

 marking and white ground-color. Breeds from the coast of 

 Virginia, southward, through the warmer parts of America, iu 

 June. Eggs placed on the sand. 



