EGG-BIRD. 433 



poses all night, rocked to sleep by the roll of the 

 surf. The fishermen, on visiting their pots at early 

 day, find the Terns, exceedingly often, sitting on 

 the buoys ; and so fearless are they, that not seldom 

 a canoe may be paddled nearly within touch of one 

 before he will fly. 



Though web-footed, I believe none of the Terns 

 are ever seen to swim. One shot and wounded in 

 the wing made no effort to strike out, but merely 

 struggled in the water as a land-bird would do. 

 This specimen was brought home alive ; it attempt- 

 ed to bite, striking with the beak. The flesh was 

 dark, and resembled that of a Duck. 



EGG-BIRD.* 

 Hydrochelidon fuliginosa. 



Sterna fuliginosa , GMEL. Aud. pi. 235. 



Hydrochelidon fuliginosum^ BOIE. 



FOR my information concerning this species, I 

 am principally indebted to Mr. Hill ; a single spe- 

 cimen only having fallen into my possession, which 

 was shot by Sam, sitting on a fish-pot buoy near 

 Bluefields, in the manner of the former species. 



It is, however, a bird of considerable commercial 

 importance ; for its eggs, in common with those 



* Length 17 inches, expanse [40, computed,] flexure 11-^, tail 

 uropygials 4, rictus 2^, tarsus 1, middle toe 1-^. 



