LARID^E — THE GULLS AND TERNS — STERNA. 313 



anal re^'ion, wliite ; ciissiun pale smoky gray. Scapulars and wing-coverts distinctly but narrowly 

 tipped with M'hite. Lateral tail-feathers entirely blaclush. 



Average total length, about 16.50 inches; extent, 33.0U to 35.00 ; wing, 12.00; tail, 7.00-7.50, 

 its fork, 3.00-3.50 ; culnieu, 1.80; depth of bill at base, .50 ; tarsus, 1 00 ; middle toe, with claw, 



1.20. 



The series before us exhibits a marked difference between specimens from certain localities — 

 quite sufficient, if constant, to characterize dehnable local races. Thus, examples from Florida and 

 otlier i)arts of the Atlantic coast have the exterior pair of rectrices pure white, growing grayish- 

 dusky terminally, the entire abdomen, anal region, and crissum being pure white. Those from 

 Western Mexico (Socorro and Isabella islands) are the .same as regards the rectrices ; but the lower 

 part of the abdomen, the anal region, and crissum, are light pearl-gray, in decided contrast to the 

 white of the breast, etc. These constitute the var. crissalis, Baird. A specimen from the Hondou 

 Islands, and another from Dog Island, South Pacific Ocean, are very similar to Florida exami)les ; 

 but the outer rectrices are pale gray to the extreme base, the terminal portion of the inner web 

 dusky grayish for the extent of 2.50 inches. The posterior lower parts are also quite distinctly 

 tinged with pale grayish. Three .specimens from Palmyra Island (Dr. Streets) resemble the last 

 in the coloration of the lower parts ; but the lateral rectrices are deep brownish gray throughout, 

 the terminal portion dusky — this, in two e.xamples, extending quite to the base of the outer web ! 

 The blackish of the nape is much narrower than in specimens from any other locality, and is much 

 interrupted by the exposure of the whitish bases of the feathers. 



The Sooty Tern is an intertropical species found in all parts of the globe, spor- 

 adically, between the 30th degree of north latitude and the same degree south. It 

 is especially abundant in the islands off the southern coast of Florida and in various 

 points in the West Indies. It is a great wanderer, and has occasionally been met 

 with at a considerable distance from its usual residence. 



According to Yarrell, a single specimen was shot, October, 1852, in England ; and 

 Naumann states that one Avas taken near INIagdeburg, in Germany. During Captain 

 Cook's voyage this species is said to have been met with several hundred miles from 

 land. It is abundant about Ascension and Christmas islands, and appears to be com- 

 mon on some of the island groups of the South Seas. jMr. Gould includes it among 

 the birds of Australia. 



Mr. Salvin met with a few solitary birds of this species on the coast of Honduras 

 in the latter part of April ; but was told that they were much more abundant, and 

 that they bred in large numbers at Cape Gracias a Dios. Mr. Dresser procured two 

 specimens on the southern coast of Texas, but he did not meet with any breeding- 

 place. In a voyage from England to Cape Town, Mr. Layard saw a flock of these 

 Terns passing directly over the vessel, early in the morning, in lat. 10° 35' S. INIr. 

 J. C. Melliss (" Ibis," 1870) speaks of this species as occurring, although not very 

 abundantly, at St. Helena. It inhabits the rocky islets off the coast, loiown as 

 George's and Spury Island, in considerable numbers. It does not remain there all 

 the year, but arrives about the end of December, and breeds during the months of 

 January, February, and March. Much risk of life is run to obtain its eggs, which 

 are brought to the market, and are regarded by some as a great delicacy. It seldom 

 comes near the inhabited portion of the Island of St. Helena. 



Mr. Edward Newton mentions (''Ibis," 1865) finding this species breeding on the 

 Island of Rodriguez, near Mauritius. Von Heugiin met with it in pairs or in small 

 flocks in the Red Sea, south of 14° north latitude, and on the Somali coast. It is also 

 found — although rarely — on the guano island of Bur-da-Rebschi. 



Captain Sperling (" Ibis," 1868, p. 286) gives an account of his visit to the breeding- 

 place of this species on Ascension Island ; the spot where these birds gather together 

 for nesting purposes being called by the sailors " Wide-awake Fair." As he approached 



VOL. II. — 40 



