THE INVITATION. 289 



a glance told that it was a sea-bird ; but as 

 to its name or habitat, I must defer my an- 

 swer till I could get a peep into Audubon, 

 or some large collection. 



The bird had fallen down exhausted in a 

 meadow, and was picked up just as the life 

 was leaving its body. The place must have 

 been one hundred and fifty miles from the 

 sea, as the bird flies. As it was the sooty- 

 tern, which inhabits the Florida Keys, its 

 appearance so far north and so far inland 

 may be considered somewhat remarkable. 

 On removing the skin I found it terribly 

 emaciated. It had no doubt starved to 

 death, ruined by too much wing. Another 

 Icarus. Its great power of flight had made 

 it bold and venturesome, and had carried it 

 so far out of its range that it starved before 

 it could return. 



The sooty-tern is sometimes called the sea- 

 swallow, on account of its form and power 

 of flight. It will fly nearly all day at sea, 

 picking up food from the surface of the 

 water. There are several species, some of 

 them strikingly beautiful. 



