80 



TERNS. 



Florida, and on the Atlantic coast to Virginia ; occasionally wanders north- 

 ward to the Great Lakes and Massachusetts. 



Long Island, A. V. in summer. 



Eggs^ one to four, more pointed than those of the preceding, grayish white, 

 with rather small, distinct, and obscure chocolate markings, 2-65 x 1-75. 



A common species on our southern coasts. During the winter it 

 is about the only Tern one sees in Florida waters. It is a strong, 

 active bird on the wing, and a reckless, dashing diver, frequently dis- 

 appearing beneath the surface in catching its prey. The slow-flying 

 Pelicans are at its mercy, and it often deftly robs them of their well- 

 earned gains. 



Both this species and the preceding, and indeed all the Terns, are 

 to be known from the Grulls by the very different manner in which 

 they hold their bills. A Tern points its bill directly downward, and 

 looks, as Coues says, like a big mosquito, while a Gull's bill points for- 

 ward in the plane of its body. 



67. Sterna sandvicensis acuflavida {Cabot). Cabot s Tern; 

 Sandwich Tekn. Ad. in spring. — Whole top of the head and crest black; 

 back and wings light pearl-gray ; primaries silvery gray ; the shaft part of 

 the inner web white except at the tip ; rest of the plumage white ; feet and 

 bill black, the latter with a conspicuous yelloivlsh tip. Ad. after the breeding 

 season and in winter.— 'i^'imWox to the above, but crown white, sometimes 

 spotted with black ; back of the head and crest more or less streaked with 

 white, Im. — Similar to the preceding, but back spotted with blackish ; tail 

 slaty gray and much shorter ; bill slightly if at all tipped with yellow. L., 

 16-00 ; W., 10-50 ; T., 5-50 ; B., 2-05. 



Range. — Tropical America, breeding on the Gulf coast from Texas to 

 Florida, and on the Atlantic coast to South Carolina ; accidental in Massa- 

 chusetts. 



Eggs., two to three, buffy white, spotted, speckled, and scrawled with dis- 

 tinct and obscure chocolate markings, 2-05 x 1-40. 



This is an abundant summer resident on the coasts of southern 

 Florida, and in winter is common as far north as Key West. 



It is said by Audubon to somewhat resemble the Marsh Tern on 

 the wing, and to have a loud, sharp, grating voice, which can be heard 

 half a mile or more. I have never seen it alive, but I believe its 

 yellow-tipped, black bill would enable one to identify it at some dis- 

 tance. 



Trudeau's Tern {68. Sterna trudeaui) is a South American species which 

 has been taken once on Long Island and once on the New Jersey coast. 



69. Sterna forsteri JS^utt. Forster's Tern. Ad. in summer. — 

 Whole top of the head black; back and wings pearl-gray; inner border of 

 inner web of the outer primaries white, except at the tip ; rump and entire 



