TERNS. 79 



gin at the end of the feather, white; tail white, slightly forked, the middle 

 feathers grayish ; under parts wliite ; bill and feet black, the former rather 

 short and stout. Ad. in iviriter. — Similar to the above, but top of the head 

 white, auriculars grayish, and a space in front of the eye blackish. L., 14-50; 

 W., 12-00; T., 5-50; B., 1-40; depth of B. at base, -50. 



Range. — Cosmopolitan ; in North America breeds along the Gulf coast from 

 Mexico to Florida, and on the Atlantic coast north to Virginia, straying 

 northward rarely to Maine. 



Washington, casual. Long Island, A. V. in summer. 



Eggs., three to live, rather uniform buffy white, with numerous distinct and 

 obscure chocolate markings, 1-80 x 1-30. 



This is a common species on the coast of our Southern States. It 

 is said to prefer insects, which it catches on the wing, to fish. Its voice 

 is harsh and easily distinguishable from that of other Terns, while its 

 heavy black bill will also serve to identify it. 



64. Sterna tsche^ava LepecJi. Caspian Tern. Ad. in spring. 

 — Top and back of the head shining black, the feathers lengthened to form 

 a crest ; back of the neck, under parts, and tail white ; back and wings pearl- 

 gray ; primaries dark slaty, silvery on the outer web (Fig. 61, a) ; bill coral- 

 red, darker near the tip ; feet black. Ad. after the breeding season and in 

 winter. — Similar to the above, but top of the head streaked with black. Im. 

 — Top of head streaked with black and white ; back of neck and under parts 

 white ; back, wing-coverts, and tertials pearl-gray, spotted or barred with 

 brownish black ; primaries dark slaty, silvery on the outer web ; tail pearl- 

 gray, more or less barred with brownish black ; bill orange-red ; feet black- 

 ish brown. L., 21-00; W.. 16-20; T., 6-00; B., 2-80. 



Range. — A cosmopolitan species of irregular distribution ; in North Amer- 

 ica, breeds locally from Texas to Great Slave Lake ; migrates through the in- 

 terior and on the coast, and apparently does not winter within our limits. 



Long Island, uncommon T. V., Aug. and Sept. 



Eggs., two to three, grayish white or huffy white, with rather small, dis- 

 tinct, and obscure chocolate markings, 2-70 x 1-83. 



This large Tern of local distribution is to be known by its size and 

 red bill. Unless the two were seen together, however, I do not believe 

 it could with certainty be distinguished in life from the Royal Tern. 



65* Sterna maxima Bodd. Eoyal Tern. Ad. in spring. — Top and 

 back of the head shining black, the feathers lengthened to form a crest ; 

 back of the neck, under parts, and tail white ; back and wings pearl-gray ; 

 inner web of primaries, except at the tip, white ; tip, outer web, and shaft part 

 of inner web dark, silvery slate-color (Fig. 61, b). Ad. after the breeding 

 season and in winter. — Similar to the above, but top of the head streaked 

 with black and white. Im. — Resembling the young of 8. tschegrava., but 

 smaller and with the inner half of the inner web of the primaries white. L., 

 19-00; W., 14-00; T., 7-00; B., 2-50. 



Range. — Breeding in North America along the Gulf coast from Texas to 



