292 



LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS — LONGIPENNES. 



Sterna Forsteri. 



FORSTER'S TERN. 



Stenia Mrundo, Sw. & Rich. F. B. A. II. 1831, 412 (not of Linn.). 



Sterna Forsteri, Nutt. Man. II. 1834, 274 (footnote). — Lawii. in Ikinl's B. N. Am. 1858, 862.— 



Baird, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 691. — Coues, Key, 1872, 321 ; Check List, 1873, no. 566 ; 



2d ed. 'l882, no. 798 ; Birds N. W. 1874, 676. — Kidgw. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 685. 

 Sterna Havelli, Aud. Orn. Biog. Y. 1839, 122, pi. 409, fig. 1 (young in winter) ; Synop. 1839, 318 ; 



B. Am. VIII. 1844, 103, pi. 434. — Lawk, in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858,861. — Baikd, Cat. N. 



Am. B. 1859, no. 686. 



Hab. North America generally, breeding from interior of British America south to the Poto- 

 mac River, Illinois, Southern Texas, Nevada, California, etc. ; migrating south to Brazil. 



Sp. Char. Adult, in summer : Pileuni and nape deep black. Upper i)arts, including rump 

 and tail, light pearl-gray, the priniaiies and tail paler and more silvery, the inner webs of the 



Adult, in summer. 



outer pair of rectrices usually darker (sometimes quite dusky) for that portion beyond the tip of 

 the next feather. Inner webs of primaries without any well-defined white space, except on two 

 outer quills, but the edge usually more or less dusky. Tips of .secondaries, anterior upper tail- 

 coverts, sides and under part of head and neck, and entire lower parts pure white. Bill dull waxy 



Adult in mnier. 



orange, the terminal third or more blackish, with the tip usually paler; mouth orange ; edges of 

 eyelids black ; iris dark brown ; legs and feet very fine orange-red, the claws black. Adult, tn 

 winter : Similar, but the head and neck white, the occiput and nape more or less tinged with gray- 

 ish, the sides of the head marked by a broad space of black surrounding the eyes and extending 



