STERNA CASPIA : CASPIAN TERN. 355 



GULL-BILLED OR MARSH TERN. 



Sterna anglica Mont. 



Chars. Bill remarkably short, stout, and obtuse, hardly or not half 

 as long again as the tarsus ; bill and feet black ; pileum black ; 

 mantle pearly grayish-blue, this color extending on the rump 

 and tail ; primaries with the white stripe restricted to their bases, 

 their shafts white. Length, 13.00-15.00; extent, about 34.00; 

 wing, 10.00-12.00; tail, 4.00, forked only 2.00 or less, the lateral 

 feathers little narrowed; tarsi, 1.00-1.25; bill, i 33. 



Of casual and rare occurrence. The only instances 

 which have come to our knowledge are those given by 

 Mr. Brewster, of a specimen taken at Ipswich, Mass., 

 in September, 1871 (Am. Nat., vi, 1872, p. 306), and one 

 shot at Grand Menan in the latter part of August, 1879, 

 as noted by Mr. Deane (Bull. Nutt. Club, v, 1880, p. 63). 

 But the species is given by nearly all the earlier writers, 

 upon data which were doubtless satisfactory to them at 

 the time. It breeds plentifully as far north as Cobb's 

 Island, Va. 



CASPIAN TERN. 



Sterna caspia Pall. 



Chars. Of great size, being much the largest of the Terns. Occi- 

 put slightly crested. Feet black, bill red. Mantle pearly grayish- 

 blue; black cap extending below the eyes, but under eyelid 

 white ; primaries without any white stripe. In winter, black of 

 the cap mostly restricted to the occiput. Young with bill dusky 

 and yellowish ; back, wings and tail patched with brown or 

 blackish. Length, 20.00 or more ; wing, 15.00-17.00; tail, 5.00- 

 6.00, moderately forked, without narrowed feathers ; bill, 2.33- 

 2.75, very stout, 0.75 or more deep at base, 0.50 wide opposite 

 nostrils; tarsus, 1. 67-1 .75; middle toe and claw rather less. 



