198 



KEY TO THE WATER ]iIRDS Ol' FI>ORIDA. 



Range : " Northern South America nortliward to California and New Eng- 

 land and casually to Labrador, breeding nearly throughout its range." 



(a.o.u.) 

 STERNA FULIQIN05A (hml. 

 Sooty Tern. 



Adult ill sniiniier ; Bill black; crown and 

 entire upper plumage black; dusky on the 

 nape: forehead white, extending back in a 

 pointed streak from the sides of the forehead, 

 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 

 and feet black. 

 _»/ J Length, 16.50: Wing, 11.50; Tail. 7 : Tarsus, 



• \^^ ■^°' ^'^^' '■^°' 



'''••'>«0'^^ The Soot}' 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 Bahama Islands. Eggs usually two, buff 



white marked with chocolate brown. 



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



STERNA AN/ETHETUS 

 Bridled Tern. 



Su'/. 



Sp}-ing phnnage, bill black ; cap 

 black ; forehead white, extending in a stripe 

 on both sides of the forehead over and 

 beyond the eye ; upper back (mantle) gray- 

 ish, shading into white on the sides of the 

 neck ; wings grayish brown, under parts 

 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, 10.40 ; Tail, 6.25 ; 

 Tarsus, .70; Bill, 1.50. 

 The Bridled Tern is a tropical species which is accidental on t)ur 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. 



