66 KEY TO THE WATER IHRDS OF FLORIDA. 



Range : " Northern South America northward to CaHfornia and New Eno:;- 

 land and casually to Labrador, breeding nearly tiirouf^hout its range." 



(A.O.U.) 



STERNA FULIGINOSA Gm,-/. 

 Sooty Tern. 



Adult in sitiinuer : Hill black: crown and 

 entire upper plumage black ; dusky on the 

 nape: forehead white, extending back in a 

 pointed streak from the sides of the foreliead. 

 but not reaching above the eye ; under parts 

 white: outer tail feathers white, shading into 

 ,^^_ _ dark brown on the inner web near the tip : legs 



^MBfe and feet black. 



<4P^B^ Length, 16.50: Wing, 11.50; Tail, 7: 'J'arsus. 



^1^ .90 ; Bill, 1.60. 



The Sooty Tern is common along 



the coast of Southern Florida in summer. It probably breeds in Florida, as 



it does so in large numbers in the I^ahama Islands. Eggs usually two, buff 



white marked with chocolate brown. 



Range: "Tropical and sub-tropical coasts of the globe." (a.o.u.) 



STERNA AN/ETHETUS Scop. 

 Bridled Tern. 



^^jMj^^^^ Adult: Spring plninagc.hWX black: cap 



^^^^^^^^^k black; forehead white, extending in a stripe 



jSSSll^^^^^^Hk on both sides of the forehead over and 



^^^^^^ beyond the eye ; upper back (mantle) gray- 



^^^^^ ish, shading into white on the sides of the 



^^^^L neck ; wings grayish brown, under parts 



1 ^^IP» white; primaries dark brown, the first and 



second showing a stripe of white on the inner 

 webs not reaching the tips ; upper tail coverts 

 slaty gray ; outer tail feathers almost entirely 

 white, showing a slight tinge of brownish 

 near the tip; legs and feet black. 



Length. 14.25 ; Wing, 10 : Tail, 6.25 ; Tar- 

 sus, .70 ; Bill, 1.50. 

 The Bridled Tern is a tropical species which is accidental on our coast. 

 It has once been taken in Florida and probably will be found to occur regu- 

 larly in summer. I found it breeding in the Bahama Islands in June, 1879, 

 in company with the Sooty Terns. The eggs are usually two, cream color 

 or brownish white blotched with chocolate brown. 



t 



