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with the forehead brownish-white, a dusky band passing from be- 

 hind the eyes on the occiput — a patch of the same color on the shoul- 

 ders of the wings ; back and wing-coverts pale grayish-brown, the 

 feathers marked with darker brown ; lower parts white. 



In plumage, this species bears a strong resemblance to the Com- 

 mon Tern, with which it associates. During summer it is common 

 along the Atlantic districts, its breeding range being no less exten- 

 sive. It arrives on the shores of Long Island in the month of May, 

 and retires south in Autumn. It feeds on various species of insects, 

 as well as on small fish. Length nine inches and a half, wing six 

 and five-eighths. 



STERNA DOUGALLI— MONT. 



ROSEATE TERN. 



Sterna Dongalli, Temm. 



Roseate Tern, Nutt. Man. 



Roseate Tern, Sterna Dongalli, Aucl. Om. Biog. 



Specific Character — Bill black, tail deeply forked, the lateral 

 feathers extending about three inches beyond the wings. Bill from 

 frontlet feathers to the point, one inch and five-eighths, tarsi, three- 

 quarters. Adult male with the upper part of the head and occiput 

 black ; sides of the head and hind neck Avhite ; upper parts pale 

 bluish-gray — the tail lighter and deeply forked, the outer feathers 

 being 4 5 inches longer than the middle feathers, and extending about 

 three inches beyond the wings ; outer vane of the first quills black ; 

 a band of the same color on the inner web next to the shaft, increas- 

 ing in width, and becoming lighter in color on the inner quills ; fore 

 neck, breast, abdomen, and sides of the body rose color, which al- 

 most entirely disappears soon after death; feet bright red. Length 

 fourteen inches and three quarters, wing nine and a quarter. 



In this vicinity it is not common. According to Mr. Audubon, 

 it is abundant on the Florida Keys, where it breeds. With us, this 

 elegant Tern is occasionally observed in company with the Com- 

 mon Tern, from which it is easily distinguished by its black bill r 

 deeply forked tail, and the lower parts of the body being of a deli- 

 cate rose color. 



