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STERNA NIGRA— LINN. 



BLACK TERN. 



Sterna Nigra, Boiiap. Syn. 



Sterna Nigra, Black Teni, Sw. & Rich. 



Black Tern, or Stern, Nutt. Man. 



Black Tern, Sterna nigi-a, Aud. Oni. Biog. 



Specific Character — Bill black, slender, from frontlet feathers one 

 inch, tarsi nine-sixteenths, tail slightly forked. Adult male with the 

 head, neck, breast, sides of the body and abdomen black ; lower tailco" 

 verts white ; upper parts and tail, dark bluish-gray; shafts of the quills 

 brownish-white, the outer lighter, their tips blackish-brown — the 

 wings extending about two inches beyond the tail ; shoulders, wings, 

 and lower Aving coverts bluish-gray ; leet reddish-brown. Young 

 with the forehead, throat, and neck, brownish-white ; crown and oc- 

 ciput dusky ; breast and abdomen white; the sides of the body and 

 lower wing covcrls bluish-gray — upper wing coverts darker, mot- 

 tled with brown. Length nine inches, wing eight and a quarter. 



'• This species is common to both continents. In America, i's mi- 

 grations extend to the interior of the Fur countries, where, accord- 

 ing to Dr. Richardson, it is known to breed ; and in Europe it is 

 met with as far as Iceland." Along the coasts of the middle Atlan- 

 tic districts, it is not very common. It seems to prefer the marshes 

 not far from the sea. It visits annually the marshy grounds iy- 

 inc in the vicinity of the sea coast of New Jersey ; and according 

 to my observations, is more numerous on the meadows in the neigh- 

 borhood of the city of Newark. On Long Island it does not occur 

 in large numbers, though by no means rare, as almost every season 

 a few^ are observed flying over the necks of land in pursuit of in- 

 sects, and fishing on the creeks and mill-ponds. It seems, however, 

 to prefer feeding on the inhabitants of the air to those of the water, 

 which are not altogether neglected in making up its bill of fare. 



The Black Tern, like the rest of its tribe, has great powers of 

 wino", and though apparently delicately formed, it is strong and 

 muscular. It is active in pursuit of its prey, and displays the same 

 timidity of disposition, except when defending its young, for which 



