192 LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS — LONGIPENNES. 



Genus RHYNCHOPS, Linnaeus. 



Link. S. N. ed. 10, I. 1758, 228 ; ed. 12, I. 1766, 228 (type, R. nigra, Linn.). 

 Rhynchops, Lath. Ind. Oru. II. 1790, 802. 



Char. Same as those of the family. 



The genus Rhynchops contains only three species, so far as known ; the R. nigra, peculiar to 

 America ; R. flavirostris, Vieill., of the Red Sea, and R. albicollis, Swains., of India. We have 

 not been able to examine either of the exotic species, but upon examining an excellent colored 



Ji. nigra. 



plate of R. albicollis in Gray and Mitchell's "Genera of Birds" (Vol. III. pi. clxxxi.), we are 

 unable to appreciate any point wherein it differs from tin- winter plumage of R. nigra. 



Rhynchops nigra. 



THE BLACK SKIMMER. 



Ryndwps nigra, Link S. N. ed. 10, I. 1758, 228 ; ed. 12, I. 1766, 22S. 



Rhynchops nigra, Lath. Ind. Orn. II. 1700, S02. — Lawk, in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858, 866. — Bahid, 



(;it. X. Am. B. 1859, no. 697. — Coues, Key, 1872, 324 ; Check List, 1873, no. 577 ; 2d ed. 



1882, no. 809; Birds N. W. 1874, 715. — Ridgw. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 656. 

 Rynchops fulva, Linn. S. N. I. 1766, 229 (young?). 

 Rhynchops cinerascens, Spix, Av. Bras. 1826, pi. 102 (young). 

 Rhynchops brcvirostris, Spix, Av. Bras. 1826, pi. 103 (young). 



? Rhynchops mclanurus, "Boie," Swains. Aiiim. in Menag, 1838, 340 (Demerara). 

 Rhynchops borcalis, Swains. 1. c. 



Hab. Warmer parts of America, south to 45° S., north, along the Atlantic coast, to New 

 Jersey (regularly), or even Maine (casually). Both coasts of Central America. 



Sp. Char. Adult : Forehead, lores, checks, and entire lower parts, from chin to crissum, inclu- 

 sive, with axillars, lining of the wing, lateral upper tail-coverts, and ends of secondaries and inner 

 primaries (broadly), pure white ; rest of the plumage, including upper parts in general, with 

 auriculars, dusky black. Tail white, the shafts of the feathers brownish on the upper surface, the 

 intermedin grayish brown edged with white, tin- other rectrioes more or less tinged at ends with 



