LARID.E THE GULLS AND TERNS. 249 



Only one species of this genus belongs properly to North 

 America, although a single specimen of a European species was 

 taken at Lake Koshkonong, Wisconsin, by the late Professor 

 Thure Kumlien, July 5, 1873. 



The common North American bird has been generally referred 

 to the European H. nigra (LiNN.), but is so different that little, 

 if any, harm would be done by considering it a distinct species.* 



Hydro chelidon nigra surinamensis (GmeL) 



BLACK TEEN. 



Popular synonyms. American Black Tern; Short- tailed Tern: Golondrina de mar (Mexico). 

 Sterna surinamensis GMEL. S. N. i, pt. ii, 1788, 604. 



Hydrochelidon surinamensis BONAP. Compt. Rend. 1856. 773. 

 Hydrochelidon lariformis surinamensis RIDGW. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 693. 

 Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis STEJN. Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus. VoL 5. 1882, 40. B. B. 

 & R. Water B. N. Am. ii, 1884. 318.-A, O. U. Check List. 1886. No. 77.-Rn>GW. Man. N. 

 Am. B. 1887, 47 

 titema plumbea Wrxs. Am. Orn. vii, 1813, 83. pL 83 (young). 



Hydrochelidon jjZwm&ea LAWB. in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858. 864. BAIBD, Cat. N. Am. B. 



1859, No. 695. 



Sterna nigra Sw. & RICH. F. B.-A. ii. 1831, 415 (nee LINN.). NUTT. Man. ii. 1834, 282. AUD. 

 Orn. Biog. ill, 1835, 593; v, 1839, 642, pi. 180; Synop. 1839. 320; B. Am. vii, 1844, 116, pi. 438. 

 Hydrochelidon nigra (part) SAUNDEBS, P. Z. S. 1878, 642. 

 Hydrochelidon fissipes (part) COUES, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1862, 554 (nee Sterna 



iissipes LINN.); Key, 1872, 323; Check List, 1873. No. 575. 



Hydrochelidon lariformis (part) COUES, B. N. W. 1874,704 (nee Eallus lariformis LINN.); 

 2d Check List. 1882. No. 806.-Rn>GW. Orn. 40th Par. 1877, 640. 



HAB. The whole of temperate North America, and portions of tropical America; north 

 to Alaska, south to Chili; breeds nearly throughout its North American range, except along 

 Atlantic and Gulf coasts. 



SP. CHAP. Adult, in summer: Head, neck, and lower parts sooty black, the head and 

 neck, especially above, nearly pure black; anal region and crissum pure white. Entire 

 upper parts uniform plumbeous, the border of the wing, from the shoulders to the carpo- 

 metacarpal joint, white. Lining of the wing light plumbeous- gray. Bill deep black, the 

 rictus lake-red, the interior of the mouth pinkish; iris dark brown; legs and feet purplish 

 dusky. Adult, in winter: Head, neck, and lower parts pure white ; orbital and auricular 

 regions dusky ; crown and occiput dark grayish, the feathers bordered with paler. Upper 

 parts as in the summer plumage, but rather paler plumbeous. Young, first plumage: Very 

 similar to the winter plumage, bat scapulars, inter scapulars, and tertials tipped with raw 

 umber brown, the anterior lesser wing coverts dusky, the crown, occiput, and upper part 

 of the nape dusky, and the entire sides washed with plumbeous. Downy young: Above, 

 deep, soft umber-brown, with a few coarse, irregular marblings of black; forehead, crown, 

 throat, and chest more sooty brown, without markings; sides of the head (including lores) 

 dull whitish; abdomen white centrally, pale sooty grayish exteriorly.* 



* See Water Birds of North America, vol. ii. p. 320, 



t From No. 77,564. Cold Springs. CaL. July 27, 1877; H. W. HKNSHAW, collector. 



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