416 LAEIDiE. 



Subfam. EHYNCHOPINM 



The " Skimmers," by which name this subfamily of Terns is usually known, require 

 but little characterization, as they are remarkable above all other sea-birds for their 

 long scissor-like bill, in which the under mandible greatly exceeds the maxilla in length. 



RHYNCHOPS. 



Rynchops, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 228 (1766). 



Rhynchops, Saunders, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxv. p. 152 (1896). 



The characters of the genus are those of the subfamily. 



Five species are known, of which three are American, one African, and the other 

 Indian. They occur on the coasts, but likewise ascend the great streams of the 

 tropical countries in which they live to an immense distance, and lay their eggs on the 

 sand-banks. 



1. Khynchops nigra. 



The Cut Water, Catesby, Nat. Hist. Carol, i. p. 90, t. 90 (1731) \ 



Rhynchops nigra, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 228 == ; Scl. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 179 ' ; Salv. Ibis, 1865, p. 193 * ; 



1866, p. 200 ' ; 1889, p. 379 ' ; Dresser, Ibis, 1866, p. 45 ' ; Duges, La Nat. i. p. 142 ' ; 



Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 318 ' ; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 52" ; Sumiekr. 



La Nat. v. p. 234'' ; Boucard, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 462" ; Nutting, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. vi. 



p. 409 " ; Baird, Brewer, & Ridgway, T\"ater-Birds N. Amer. ii. p. 192 " ; Herrera, La Nat. 



(2) i. pp. 188", 329"; A. O. U. Check-l. N. Amer. Birds, 2nd ed. p. 27" ; Saunders, 



Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxv. p. 153" ; Gates, Cat. Eggs Brit. Mus. i. p. 200, 1. 15. fig. 8". 



Ptil. Mem. Supra brnnnescenti-nigra, alis mgricantioribus, primariis intimis intos ad apicem. albis, secaadariis 

 intus et ad apicem late albis ; dorsi imi lateribus et sapracaadalibas extimis fere albia : rectricibns albis, 

 plus minusve medialiter brunneis ; pileo bninneo, postice vix nigricante ; regione postoculari quoque 

 nigricanti-brunnea ; fronte et facie laterali, cum torque collari lato et corpore subtus toto, pure albis ; 

 tectricibus alarum minimis albis ; subalaribus et axillaribus albis, margine alarum bmnneo ; remigibus intus 

 cinerascenti-brunneis : rostro corallino, ad apicem nigro ; pedibus corallinis ; iride brunnea. Long, tota 

 circa 15-0, alae 13-2, caudse 4-2, rostro 2-8, tarsi 1-2. (Descr. feminse adultae ex Acapam. Mus. nostr.) 



Juv. ptilosi biemali similis, sed collo postico brunneo albido striolato. 



PtU. cestiv. Supra nigerrima, torque albo collari nullo ; fronte, facie laterali et corpore subtus toto pure albis : 

 rostro rubro, medialiter flavicante, ad apicem nigro ; pedibus aurantiaco-rubris ; iride brunnea. Long. 

 tota circa 16'0, alae 13"6. (Descr. maris adulti ex Corpus Christi. Mus. nostr.) 



Eab. ^ORTH Amekica, eastern coast to New Jersey, and casually to the Bay of 

 Fundy"i8 — Mexico, Matamoros Lagoon (Dresser'', Berlandier ^^), Tampico 

 {Berlandier i*, Bicliardson ^% Valley of Mexico (Herrera i^ i6), city of Mexico 

 (Wliite^), Guaflajuato (Buges^), San Bias {Grayson % Zacatula River (Xantus^), 

 coasts of the Gulf of Tehuantepec ", San Mateo i" (Sumichrast), northern 

 coasts of Yucatan 12, Rio Lagartos ^^ Progreso^^ Cozumel I. ^ ^s (Gaumer) ; 



