300 
NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 
THE BLACK TERN. 
Sterna nigra. 
PLATE CXXVI. FIGS. 278 anil 278 A. 
(STATE COLLECTION.) 
Sterna nigra, Lin. p.227. Pennant, Arctic Zoology, Vol. 2, p. 525 (adult). 
S. plumbea. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 7, p. 83, pi. CO, fig. 3 (young). 
S. nigra. Bonaparte, Ann. Lyc. Vol. 2, p. 355. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 415. 
Hydrochelidon id. Bonaparte, Geog. and Comp. List. Audubon, B. of Am. Vol. 7, p. 116, pi. 438. 
Characteristics. Bill black. Tail moderately forked. Tarsus and middle toe subequal: 
webs deeply concave. Summer, nearly all blackish. Winter, head 
and neck deep black; front, throat and vent white. Young, forehead 
and all beneath white ; hind head blackish ; back varied with rusty. 
Length, 8'5. 
Description- Bill slender, acute, somewhat curved above, 1'0 long: mental angle nearly 
medial. Tibia partly bare : webs very concave on the margin, scarcely extending beyond the 
middle of the toes. Tail slightly forked ; the outer feathers 0 - 8 longer than the middle pair. 
Color. Adult in full plumage : Lower tail-coverts white. Bill black : feet reddish 
brown. Wings and tail bluish black. All the remaining parts black. From specimens shot 
in July and August: Head, neck and all beneath, except the white vent and under tail- 
coverts, deep brownish black ; back, wing-coverts, rump and tail dark slate ; quills blackish 
brown ; forehead, chin and cheeks whitish, spotted and streaked with brown (fig. 278). In 
some individuals, the throat and breast are mottled in the same manner, showing that the 
birds were changing to their winter dress. The young (278 a), killed at the same time, 
correspond in their markings with that described and figured by Wilson, being reddish brown 
above and white beneath. 
Length, 8'0 - 9 • 0. 
The Black Tern is not very abundant on the coast of this State. It appears to prefer the 
marshes of the interior, where it will probably be found to breed. It occurs through the 
Western States and along the great lakes. It has a wide geographical range, occurring from 
the tropics to the 69th parallel. Is found equally in Europe and America. The genus 
Hydrochelidon of Boie appears to include a few species distinguished by the tenuity and 
acuteness of the bill, and the concavity of the webs of the feet. 
