NATATORES-LARID 2 E-STERNA. 
305 
THE SILVERY TERN. 
Sterna argentea. 
PLATE CXXIV. FIG. 273. 
(STATE COLLECTION.) 
Sterna minuta . Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 7, p. 80, pi. 60, fig. 2. Bonaparte, Ann. Lyc. N. Y. Vol2, p. 355, 
S. argentea. Max. de Neuwied, Voy. Vol. 1, p. 67. Temminck, Man. d’Orn. Vol. 2, p.754. 
S. id., Silvery Tern. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 280. 
/S. minuta. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 7, p. 119, pi. 439. 
Characteristics. Bill moderate, yellow, black at tip : crown black ; forehead white. First 
two quills and their shafts black, except a broad white stripe on their 
inner webs. Tarsus yellow, O'5 long. Tail moderately forked. Webs 
entire: nails long and acute. Young: crown and upper parts varied 
with soiled white and dusky. Length, 9*5. 
Description. Bill compressed, acute, somewhat curved above. Tail shorter than the 
wings ; the outer feather 1 -5 longer than the middle pair. 
Color. Forehead, and a short line extending to or above the eye, pure white: a black 
stripe extending from behind the nostrils through the eye, and uniting with the black on the 
crown. Back, wing-coverts, quills (except the first two or three), and the tail above deep 
pearl-grey. All beneath silvery white. In the color of the quills there appear to be some 
variations, and more extended observations are necessary. In a male adult (shot in July), 
the two first quills with their shafts were black on the upper surface, bordered with white 
on the inner web, which border gradually narrowed and became lost towards the tips ; be¬ 
neath, the shaft, outer web and border of the inner web of the first quill white, becoming 
dusky at the tip. In an adult female obtained at the same time, the upper surface of the 
three first quills, except the margins of the inner webs, are greyish brown, and the shafts 
black. Young: Crown white, streaked or spotted with brown. Hind head and all above 
varied with white, brown and grey. Quills deep brownish grey. A dusky stripe through the 
eye. Length, 9'0-10'0. 
This species has recently been separated from the >S. minuta of Europe, with which it 
appears indeed very closely allied. The chief differences appear to be that the Silvery Tern 
or Little Tern is larger, and the whole upper parts (with the tail) lighter than in the Euro¬ 
pean species. Temminck, however, in speaking of the minuta of Europe, observes that 
“ cette espece est absolument la meme dans l’Amerique septentrionale.” We may then pro¬ 
bably have two species, which have been confounded under one name. The Silvery Tern 
breeds from Texas to Labrador. It penetrates into the interior along the great lakes, and 
probably passes the winter within the tropics. On this coast, it is sometimes called the Little 
Sheepshead Gull, from its supposed simultaneous appearance with the Sargus ovis. I have 
not found its nest, but the eggs are light yellowish white with irregular dark brown spots and 
blotches. 
[Fauna — Fart 2.] 
39 
