iq1 key to the water birds of florida. 



Subfamily STERNIN.^. Terns. 

 Genus GELOCHELIDON Brehm. 



QELOCHELIDON NILOTICA [Hassehj.). 

 Gulhbilled Tern. 



.4 dill t ill siiiiiiiicr : Top of head and nape black: 

 upper part, including rump and tail, pearl gray: 

 under parts white; bill and feet black, the former 

 comparatively short and stout. 



Adult in ivinter: Similar, but having the head 

 and neck white, the nape ashy, and a dusky patch 

 in front of the eye. 



Length, 14; Wing, 12: Tail, 5.50; IJill, 1.40: 

 I Tarsus, i .30. 



A most widely distributed cosmopoli- 

 tan species. It is common in Florida 

 and probably breeds in tbe State. It occurs commonly on the middle Atlan- 

 tic coast in summer where it breeds, and occasionally wandering as far north 

 as Maine. The eggs are usually three in number, pale brownish white, 

 faintly mottled with brown, deposited in a slight depression in the sand. 



Genus STERNA Linn. 



STERNA T5CHEQRAVA Lcpech. 

 Caspian Tern. 



Adult ill spring: Bill deep 

 red ; top of the head black, rest 

 of upper parts pearl gray: pri= 

 maries dark slate color on 



inner webs, hoary on outer webs : 

 tail grayish white : feet l)lack. 

 Adult in winter : Top of the head streaked 

 with black ; tail showing brownish liars. 



Length, 21: Wing, 16; Tail, 6.10: Bill, 

 2.60: Tarsus, 1.50. 



According to Mr. Scott, the Caspian Tern 



/ occurs in Florida.* I haye neyer met with it in 



the State : it is known to breed on the Virginia 



coast, and probably is a regular summer \isitant 



to Florida. 



* Since tlie above was written, a l)ira of tliis species was killed in March near the head of the Banana River by Mr. T. Watson 

 Merrill, of lioston. 



