152 THE NATURALIST'S GUIDE. 



in immature plumage. Its usual habitat is from Texas to> 

 Florida and the West Indies. 



274. Sterna hirundo, LINN. Wilson's Tern. Abun- 

 dant on the coast in summer. Breeds abundantly on the 

 sandy beaches and islands. This species, and also S. ma- 

 croura, are called, by popular writers, " Seamews." They 

 are also called " Tide Gulls " and " Meous." 



275. Sterna macroura, NAUM. Arctic Tern. Abun- 

 dant summer resident. I do not think it winters. Breeds, 

 abundantly along the shore. Found it at Muskegat, breed- 

 ing apart from the other species. There is no difference; 

 in the note between this and S. hirundo. 



The descriptions heretofore given of this bird have been 

 meagre, and in many cases erroneous, tending to produce- 

 doubt as to its validity as a species. But as the specific 

 characters are well denned, and certain of them so constant 

 as fully to establish its claim as a species, I purpose to 

 give here a full description of it, with a table of measure- 

 ments. 



Sterna macroura, NAUM. Arctic Tern, Red-billed Tern- 

 Sterna macroura. NAUM., Isis, 1819, 1847. 



" macrura. LAWR., Birds N. Am. 1858, p. 862. 



" macroura COUES, Proceedings Phil. Acad. N. S., Dec., 1862,. 



p. 549. 



Sterna arctea " TEMM , Mar. d'Orn., II., 1820, p. 742." 



" " BON., Syn. 1828, No 287, p. 354. 



" " Sw. & RICH., F B A., II., 1831, p. 414. 



u " NUTT., Man., II., 1834, p. 275. 



** " AUD., Orn. Biog , III., 1835, p. 296. IB. Birds 



Am. VII. 1844, p. 107; PL CCCCXXIV.* 



" " Dr H. Bryant, Pro. Boston Soc. of Nat. Hist. VI, 



1858, p. 120. 



SP. CH. Adult. Bill slender, slightly curved ; color,, 

 bright carmine. Top of head and hind neck, black. Neck, 

 back, wing-coverts, scapularies, secondaries, breast, and 



* Figures S. hirundo with black tip to bill. 



