474 STERNA ANOL1CA. 



This is the only living specimen of the species that I ever saw and consider it very rare on 

 the coast of Florida. They are, however, not uncommon on both the Bahamas and Bermu- 

 das, where they breed, placing the single egg in a hole in the rocks. It is rather singu- 

 lar that the eggs of these birds should vary so much from those of other members of the 

 order, in being spotted, but many eggs of both of our Pelicans, show some indication of 

 markings in the form of streakings, which, at first sight, appear to be caused by blood, 

 but which is, I think, a regular pigment coloration. A specimen of the Yellow-billed 

 Tropic Bird, evidently a straggler, was, singularly enough, taken in the interior of New 

 York State, about the middle of November, 1870. 



' ORDER XVII. LONGIPENNES. LONG-WINGED BIRDS. 



Wings, very long. Tail, short. Legs, moderatelly long with anterior toes webbed. 

 Hind toe, short and elevated. 



The bill is variable in form, either curved, pointed, or laterally flattened. Sternum, 

 longer than wide, with keel equalling one half its width or higher. Marginal indenta- 

 tions, four or absent. Coracoids, longer than width of sternum. Furcula, well arched 

 and approximating closely to tip of keel which is projected forward. Sterno-trachealis, 

 present. There is a small bronchialis but no other laryngeal muscles. Oesophagus, straight 

 without dilatation. Proventriculus, not very large, with glands arranged in a zonular band. 

 Stomach, rather muscular. Cceca, short. Sexes, similar. 



FAMLY I.' LAREDO. THE GULLS AND TERNS. 



Bill, generally shorter than head, curved, pointed, or flattened laterally. Hind toe, 

 usually present. Marginal indentations, four. Keel, not perforated. 



Members of this family are closely feathered, possess the power of swimming, and also 

 move with ease upon the ground. The young are covered with down at birth and run as 

 soon as hatched, but are fed by the parents until able to fly. 



GENUS I. STERNA. THE TERNS. 



GEN. CH. Bill, about as lony as head, and pointed. Toes, webbed nearly, or quite, to lips. Legs, short. Tail, lony 

 and deeply forked. 



Members of this genus are generally very light in color. Sexes, similar. There are two species within our limits. 



STERNA ANGLICA. 



Marsh Tern. 

 Sterna anylica MONT.. Orn. Diet. Sup., 1813. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cn. Form, robust. Size, large. Bill, short and rather thick. COLOR. Adult. Above, pale bluish-ash. Outer 

 webs of primaries, hoary, inner, ashy-gray, becoming lighter toward base. Outer tail feathers, nearly white. Top of head 

 to lower eyelid and occiput, black. Line at base of upper mandible and under parts pure white. Iris, brown, bill and 

 feet, black. In winter, the anterior portion of head becomes more or less whits. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the large size, thick black bill and feet, nearly white outer tail feathers, and hoary primaries. Distribu- 

 ted, in summer, from New Jersey, southward. Rare in New England. Winters south of the United States. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, I3'75; stretch, 34-00; wing, U'15, tail. 5'25;bill, 

 1'30; tarsus, 1-25. Longest specimen, 14'50; greatest extent of wing, 35'CO, longest wing, 12-50; tail, 5 50: bill, 1-40-. tarsus, 

 1-30. Shortest specimen, 13-00; smallest extent of wing, 33-00; shortest wing, 11'75; tail.S'OO; bill, 1-20; tarsus, 1'20. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



F.ygs, placed on the ground in sandy places, three or four in number, oval in form, and varying from yellowish-bulf 

 to greenish in color, spotted and blotched with yellowish-brown and lilac. Dimensions from l'30x 1'75 to l'40x 1-8(1. 



