476 SANDWICH TERN. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Eyys, placed on the ground in sandy places, two to three in number, rather pyriform in shape, varying from white to 

 greenish-buff in color, spotted and blotched irregularly with brown, umber, and lilac of varying shades, and having an cc- 

 casional tinge of yellowish. Dimensions from I'70x2'70 to I'75x2'75. 



HABITS. 



The Royal Terns are common on the larger lakes and rivers throughout the interior of 

 Florida, as well as on the coast, during winter, but as spring approaches, they retire to the 

 sea-shore to breed. The eggs are deposited about the first of June and are placed on the 

 naked sand. These birds are very shy at all times; even when breeding, they will instant- 

 ly leave the immediate vicinity when it is approached, but like all other Terns, they are 

 always attracted by the cries of a wounded comrade, and at such times, appear to lose all 

 fear, for if repeatedly fired at, the survivors will continue to hover about, uttering pierc- 

 ing cries. The Royal Terns gather by thousands on the sand bars among the keys, at low 

 tide, but rise at high water to fish, at which craft they are very expert, diving downward 

 with the speed of an arrow to secure their prey. Mr. Brews ter and myself secured two 

 birds which were evidently breeding, at Nantucket, about the first of July, some five or six 

 years ago, but this is beyond their usual range. 



STERNA CANTIACA. 

 Sandwich Tern. 



Sterna cantiaca Gin., Syst. Nat., I; 1788, 606. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. CH. Form, slender. Size, rather large. COLOR. Adult. Above light pearly blue, with the four first primaries 

 dusky-gray on outer webs, and in a narrow line next the shaft on inner, the remainder of which is white. Tail and cov- 

 erts, and under parts, white. Crown, occiput and nape, black. Bill, black, with terminal fourth, yellow, iris, brown, and 

 feet, black. Winter adult and Vouny, Similar but paler, with more or less white on top of head. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the white tail and yellow terminal fourth to slender, black bill. Distributed as a constant resident in south- 

 ern Florida. Accidental, in summer, as far north as Massachusetts. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from Florida. Length, 15'39; stretch, 33'38; wing, 12'25; tail, 5'75; bill, 2-12; 

 tarsus, 1 -05. Longest specimen, 15-75; greatest extent of wing, 33'75; longest wing, 12-50; tail, 6'00; bill, 2'25; tarsus, 

 1-10. Shortest specimen, 15 00; smallest extent of wing, 33-QO; shortest wing, 12'00; tail, 5'50; bill, 2'00; tarsus, 1-00. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Et/ys, placed on the ground in sandy places, two or three in number, rather oval in form, varying from white to buff 

 in color, spotted and blotched with brown, umber, bluish, and reddish. Dimensions from 1-25x2 OO to I'30x2'15. 



HABITS. 



I found the beautiful Sandwich Terns common all winter among the Florida Keys and 

 they were not at all shy; consequently, I procured as many as I wanted. They breed on 

 a small, sandy key off Cape Sable, late in June, placing the eggs on the naked ground. I 

 have seen specimens of the Sandwich Tern, which were taken on Cape Cod, but consider 

 the species very rare so far north. 



STERNA FLUVIATILIS. 

 Common Tern. 



Sterna Jluvialilis NAUM., Isis; 1H19. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. CH. Size, medium. Form, rather slender. Bill, slender. COLOR. Adult. Back and wings, ashy-blue, with 

 primaries dusky on outer webs and white on inner two thirds of inner. Rump, upper coverts, and tail, white, with outer 

 webs of last, ashy, which becomes dusky on extreme outer webs. Crown and occiput sooty-black. Beneath, pale ashy- 

 blue. Incoming white on under wing and tail coverts. Iris, brown, feet, red, bill, red, dusky at tip. In winter, similar, 

 but paler, with crown more or less white. Youny, similar to winter adult, but are tinged with yellowish above where tho 

 feathers arc edged witli whitish ; ruinp and upper tail coverts, bluish ; shoulders, dusky. White beneath; bill, black. 



