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During winter, according to Audubon, this singular bird con- 

 gregates in vast multitudes on the coast of Florida. In summer, 

 it is distributed along the Atlantic districts, though not very common 

 with us. At Egg Harbor, it is more common, where it has been 

 found breeding. It associates in small parties, and passes most of 

 its time on the wing — usually observed flying very low, at a short 

 distance from the shore. I have never seen it alight on the water, 

 and do not think it is its custom. Those that I have met with have 

 always beeti skimming over the surface of the water, ploughing it 

 with their long bills, seemingly in pursuit of small fish, which consti- 

 tute its chief support. I have never seen it dive, and from the 

 peculiar formation of its bill, we may assert that, it only takes its prey 

 when near the surface. 



The voice of the Shearwater is harsh and screaming, somewhat 

 resembling that of the Common Tern, though stronger. When 

 fishing, it flies steadily, slowly flapping its long wings. At other 

 times its flight is exceedingly swift — equal to, if not surpassing that 

 of the Long-tailed Duck, (F. glatialis.) I am not aware that it 

 has ever been found breeding on Long Island, and it is rarely seen 

 with us except at Midsummer. 



GENUS STERNA — LINN. 



TERN. 



[Bill longer and more slender than that of Larus, the point very acute ; 

 head rather large, oblong ; neck thick, rather short ; body ovate ; wings very 

 long, narrow, and pointed ; the primaries exceedingly long ; tail of moderate 

 length, deeply forked ; feet small ; tarsi shorter than the middle toes ; lower 

 portion of tibia naked ; fore toes connected by deeply emarginate webs.] 



STERNA HIRUNDO— LINN. 



COMMON TERN. 



Sterna hirundo, Wilson. 



Sterna hirundo, Bonap. 



Sterna hirundo, Great Tern, Sw. & Rich. 



Great or Common Tern, Nuttall. 



Common Tern, Sterna hirundo, Aud. 



Specific Character — Bill bright coral red, toward the end black ; 



from the corner of the mouth to the point two inches and an eighth 



