278 



LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS — LONGIPENNES. 



1;; 



wing-coverts nearly uniform pale pearl-blue ; reniiges deeper silvery gray, the secondaries ami 

 inner primaries tipped with white ; rectrices darker subtermiiially, and tipped with wliite or ]iiilt' 

 ochraceous-bulf. Pileuni, back, and scapulars sometimes streaked with dusky, oftener immacuhitu. 

 Bill dusky brownish, the mandible dull orange-brown, except terminally ; legs and feet varyiii" 

 from dull reddish brown to dusky brown, the soles more reddish. Downy young : Above, li^-lit 

 grayish buff, with several large and tolerably well-defined dusky spots on the hind half of the 

 head, most distinct on the latero-occipital region ; a distinct longitudinal stripe of dusky down 

 each side of the lower nape and upper back ; wings, rump, and flanks, with large, rather distinct, 

 spots of dusky. Lower parts white, the sides of the throat faintly tinged with grayish. Bill dull 

 brownish, the mandible more orange ; legs and feet dull brownish orange. 



Total length, about 13.00 to 14.50 inches; e.vtent, 33.00 to 35.00 ; wing, U. 75-12.25 ; tiiil, 

 5.50 ; depth of fork, 1.50-1.75 ; culmen, 1.40 ; depth of bill through base, .45 ; tarsus, 1.30 ; 

 middle toe, with claw, 1.10. 



Much light has been thrown within a few years upon the distribution of the Gull- 

 billed Tern — Marsh Tern it is hardly entitled to be called. Recent records show it 

 to be much more cosmopolitan than was formerly supposed. It is characteristic <jf 

 no particular region, but breeds alike in the Indian Ocean and in the Gulf of Mexico, 

 in Denmark, and in Patagonia. Its range — as given by Mr. Howard Saunders — 

 is from Western Europe to the China Seas, throughout India, Ceylon, and the jNIalay 

 Region, to Australia, and along the east coast of America as far as Patagonia. It is 

 recorded by Salvin as being found on the Pacific coast of Guatemala ; but the state- 

 ment of M. F. Germain in regard to its abundance on the coast of Chili (" Proc. 

 Boston Nat. Hist. Soc." VII. 314) lacks confirmation. North of Western IMcxico it 

 is unknown on the Pacific coast ; nor has it been recorded from South Africa. It was 

 first described by Montagu from an example procured in England, and hence its 

 inappropriate specific name, anglica ; but it is of very rare occurrence in England, 

 and should not be known as the English Tern. 



In America, until quite recently, this species was supposed to breed only in a 

 restricted region on the sea-coast of Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia ; 

 but it is now known to nest abundantly in various localities in Texas, Cuba, tlio 

 Bahamas, and Mexico ; and may be presumed to breed in various other regions Avhero 

 its presence has thus far escaped detection. 



Mr. Eidgway — Avho in company with Mr. Henshaw visited Cobb's Island, Va., in 

 the latter i)art of July, 1879 — informs me that he found this the most numerous sj)o- 

 cies, nesting on the dry sand, just beyond the surf, and on the higher parts of the 

 island, and there at least not a Marsh Tern. Its note he describes as being a harsh 

 chattering laugh ; and he thinks that this bird might with propriety be called the 

 Laughing Tern. Mr. Eidgway describes this as being much bolder than the other 

 Terns in its attempts to protect its breeding-place. It darts downward, from directly 

 overhead, with such impetuosity as almost to strike the intruder, the noise which the 

 bird makes in opening its wings to check its downward course being similar to, and 

 sometimes almost as loud as, the " boom " of the Night-hawk. 



Mr. Salvin met with this Tern in February on the Pacific coast of Guatemala, and 

 procured several specimens. It did not congregate in any numbers ; two or three, at 

 the most, being all that flew in company. Lcotaud states that at times this Tern is 

 quite common about the Island of Trinidad, where it appears to be a migratory 

 species. Dr. Gundlach has informed me that it breeds in Cuba, where he has 

 obtained both eggs and young. 



Mr. N. B. Moore records the procuring of a single example on Long Island (one 

 of the Bahamas) Aug. 6, 1876. Mr. Lawrence notes the capture of specimens in 

 Southwestern Mexico, by Sumichrast, in August and February. Dr. James C. Merrill 



