430 NATATORES. 



margined with white, (in the female they are white ;) the under 

 parts are white, with a roseate tinge. This bird is known under 

 the names Shearwater, Razor-bill, Cutwater, Skimmer, Floodgull, 

 and Shippang.^ Its eggs are three or four, white, blotched with 

 shades of brown, laid in a slight hollow in the sand. Audubon 

 says, "The flight of the Black Skimmer is perhaps more elegant 

 than that of any water-bird with which I am acquainted. The 

 great length of Jts narrow wings, its partially elongated forked 

 tail, its thin body and extremely compressed bill, all appear con- 

 trived to assure it that buoyancy which one cannot but admire 

 when he sees it on the wing. It is able to maintain itself in the 

 heaviest gale ; and I believe no instance has been recorded of 

 any bird of this species having been forced inland by the most 

 violent storm." These birds show much sagacity in finding their 

 place of rendezvous in the- morning, after having been scattered 

 during the night in all directions in quest of food ; and evince 

 great enmity to Crows and Turkey Buzzards, driving them as 

 marauders from their breeding grounds. All possess great 

 power and endurance in flight; their long forked tails and 

 pointed wings, indicating both strength and swiftness. 



Of the TERNS, twelve or more species might be enumerated. 

 But we can only refer in particular to the COMMON TERN, Sterna 

 hirundo, (Lat. swallow.) found in abundance on the southern 

 shores of Europe, and in many parts of Asia and Africa. This 

 species, from fourteen to sixteen inches in length ; is sometimes 

 called the Big Tern, in Massachusetts, the Mackerel Tern. It 

 ranges on this Continent from the tropics to the Arctic circle. 



The CAYENNE TERN, <S. Cayana, is larger than the Common 

 Tern, in its size and its robust tarsi, resembling the smaller Gulls. 

 It breeds from Florida southwardly, but is met with from the 

 intertropical regions to 55o N. L. Length from sixteen to 

 nineteen inches. 



The NODDY TERN, S. stolida, (Lat. dull,) receives its common 

 name from the breeding places of this species, one of the Tor- 

 tugas Keys, called Noddy Key. The Sooty Terns, S.fuliginosa, 

 breed on an island a few miles distant. The Noddy ranging 

 from Florida southwardly, has been frequently celebrated by 

 travelers who have crossed the equator. Its color is sooty brown ; 

 the bill, black ; the crown, white ; the tail, wedge-shaped and 

 long. The Noddies form regular nests of twigs and dry grass, 

 which they place on the bushes or low trees, but never on the 

 ground. The female lays three eggs, of a reddish yellow color, 

 spotted with dull red and purple. "When seized in the hand, 

 the Noddy utters a rough cry, not unlike that of a young Amer- 



