K!;V TO Tli]': WATICR 1(1 KDS Ol-^ ]-T.() K I DA . 



199 



Geni s HYDROCHELIDON lion:. 



HYDROCHELIDON NIGRA SURINAMENSIS (Gmcl.^ 



Black Tern. 



Adult in siiiiniu-r: I'liper parts slaty i^ray : liead 

 and under parts black (except under tail coverts) : hill 

 and leet black. Adult in -a'intcr : head white, with 

 a black patch streaked with white on the (icciput : 

 upper parts gray. /ni/natn/r : upper parts mottled 

 with Iniff or pale l)rown ; sides ashy. 



Length, y. 50 : Wing, 8.30 : Tail, 3.60 : Tarsus. .70: 

 Bill, 1. 10. 



The Black Tern occurs on the Athintic 

 coast from Florida to Prince Edwarcrs Is- 

 land, and on the west coast from rVlaska 

 to Chile. It breeds from the middle United States northward. The e-gs 

 are oli\e brown blotched with pale brown and chocolate brown. 



Genus ANOUS Stephens. 



ANGUS 5T0LIDUS (/./////.). 

 Noddy Tern. 



Adnit in summer : Bill black; forehead white, 

 shading into gray on the occiput: lower eyelid 

 white : front of the eye. and narrow superciliary line 

 blackish : general plumage rich olive brown ; 

 primaries dark brown, the first having the inner 

 web pale brown ; legs and feet black. The imma- 

 ture birds have the head grayish brown, \vhitish on 

 the forehead. 



Length, 15: Wing, 10: Tail, 5.75: Tarsus. .So: 

 Bill, 1.70. 

 The Noddy Tern is a summer visitant to our Southern shores, and breeds 

 in Florida on some of the Southern keys. It is abundant in the Bahama 

 Islands and breeds there in June in great numbers. Only one egg is usually 

 laid : but I have found two in a nest on several occasions. The nest, which 

 is constructed of sticks and grass, is built ( on the Maraporvos Islands, 

 Bahamas, ) upon the low cactus plants which cover the islands. Occasionally 

 an e(r<»- was found in a depression of the rock without any nest. The eggs 

 are buff white marked with reddish brown. 



