LARID.E — THE GULLS AND TERNS — STERNA. 287 



wings rapidly and without intermission; then all at once they would descend perpen- 

 dicularly, at the same time turning the body in a jerky, irregular manner. On touching 

 the water the birds would disappear with a sudden splash, but reappear a moment 

 later, struggling as if it were not an easy thing to rise again ; then all at once they 

 would utter plaintive cries, as if alarmed, and fly off along the coast ; but would return 

 again, and calmly resume their wonted occupation. When satisfied, this bird betakes 

 itself to some buoy marking a sunken fishpot, and there reposes. The fishermen, on 

 returning to their pots at early day, often find it sitting on their buoys, so fearless that 

 the canoe will almost touch it before it will fly. Though web-footed, it is rarely known 

 to swim ; and, when wounded, struggles in the water as a land bird would do. 



In Florida Audubon found this Tern surprisingly shy. At first the birds were in 

 great flocks, resorting at low water to a large flat sandbar, where they reposed await- 

 ing the return of the tide. For several days he was unable to procure a specimen, 

 and only succeeded by employing several boats to join in the pursuit. After one 

 had been wounded there was no difficulty in procuring others. He found this Tern 

 on the St. John's Eiver, at a distance of several miles from the sea. When disturbed 

 at its breeding-place, it manifests the noisy displeasure so characteristic of its tribe, 

 uttering loud cries that may be heard to the distance of half a mile or more. 



On the 11th of May, 1832, Audubon saw it breeding on one of the Tortugas. The 

 eggs had been dropped on the bare sand a few yards from high-water mark, and dur- 

 ing the heat of the day none of the birds paid much attention to them. The number 

 of eggs was usually two, but sometimes only one. They are described as being 2.75 

 inches in length, and 1.80 in breadth. They have a pale-yellowish ground-color, spotted 

 with dark umber and faint purple. 



The eggs of this species are remarkably uniform in their general characteristics. 

 Their ground-color is a buffy white, varying only in the intensity of the tinge. The 

 markings are black, suffused with sepia-brown, with dark shades of the same deepen- 

 ing into blackness. Four eggs in the Smithsonian Collection, from the Tortugas, 

 present the following measurements : 2.45 by 1.75 inches ; 2.45 by 1.85 ; 2.55 by 1.75 ; 

 and 2.65 by 1.75. 



Sterna elegans. 



THE ELEGANT TERN. 



Sterna elegans, Gamd. Pr. Philad. Acad. IV. 184S, 129 (Mazatlan). — Lawk, in Baird's P.. N. Am. 



1858, 860; ed. 1860, pi. 94. — Baird, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 684. — Saunders, P. Z. S. 



1876, 653 (critical). — Ridgw. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 682. — Coues, 2d Check List, 1882, 



no. 795. 

 Thalusscus elegans, Gamb. Journ. Philad. Acad. ser. 2, I. 1849, 228. — Coues, ib. 1862, 540 (critical). 

 Sterna comata, Phil. & Laxdb. Wiegm. Archiv, 1868 (?), 1863, pt. 1, 126. 

 Sterna galerieulata, Finsch, Abh. Nat. 1870, 359 (Mazatlan : not of Licht. 1S23, which = 



S. maxima, Bodd.). — Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1871, 568. — Coues, Key, 1872, 319 ; Check List, 



1873, no. 563. 

 Sterna (Tlialasscus) galericulata, Coues, B. N. W. 1874, 671. 



Hab. Pacific coast of America, from Chili to California. No valid reference from the Atlantic 

 coast. 



Sp. Chae. Smaller than S. maxima, and decidedly more slender. Bill more reddish orange. 

 Tail more deeply forked. Adult, in spring : Pilenm, including occipital crest and upper halt' of 

 lores, deep black. Upper parts pale pearl-gray (about the same shade as in caspia and maxima), 

 becoming pure white on the lower part of the rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail ; outer surface of 

 primaries light silvery gray, the inner webs edged with white; inner webs of primaries marked 

 next the shaft with a broad stripe of dark gray, this color, except on the outer quill, extending 



