222 SWIMMERS. 



CABOT'S TERN. 



sandwich tern. 



Sterna sandvicensis acuflavida. 



Char. Upper parts pale pearl gray, much paler on rump and tail ; 

 tail deeply forked ; crown and nape black; under parts white tinged with 

 pink ; bill black tipped with pale buff; legs and feet black. Length 14 to 

 16 inches. 



Nest. A slight hollow scratched in the sand of a sea-beach or on a 

 grassy island ; sometimes lined with grass or dry sea-weed. 



Eggs. 2-4 (usually 3); ground color varies from white through cream 

 color to brownish buff; sometimes tinged with olive; the markings are 

 varied, but always profuse, and of several shades of brown and pale gray ; 

 size variable, average about 2.00 X i-40. 



Few species have a wider geographic range than the Sand- 

 wich Tern. It was first observed in England by Mr. Boys, of 

 Sandwich, where it is not uncommon, and was afterwards pub- 

 lished by Latham. It is readily confounded with the Common 

 Tern {Sterna hirutido), but is superior in size, besides possessing 

 other differences ; it is rather rare on other parts of the Eng- 

 lish coast. It is believed to breed on the shores of Sandwich, 

 and retires south in autumn, where it is probably afterwards 

 seen migrating to the coast of Africa to pass the winter, and 

 the young birds have been brought from the distant shores of 

 New Zealand. According to Temminck it is very abundant in 

 the isles of North Holland, and chiefly frequents the sea-coast, 

 though sometimes it has been known to wander into the inte- 

 rior and visit fresh waters. In the Leverian Museum there 

 existed, some years ago, a specimen of the young bird from 

 South America ; but it was left for our indefatigable friend 

 Audubon to discover this interesting cosmopolite within the 

 boundary of the United States. In 1832 he with his party 

 obtained a considerable number of specimens in summer 

 plumage during the month of May in East Florida, and they 

 were particularly abundant in the vicinity of Indian Key, about 

 thirty miles from Cape Sable. In this place in the usual man- 

 ner of the genus they breed together in large communities. 



