372 LARID^ : JAEGERS, GULLS, TERNS, ETC. 



frontal crescent separating the black cap from the bill, bounded 

 below by a black loral stripe reaching the bill ; shafts of two or 

 more outer primaries black on the upper surface, white under- 

 neath ; feet orange. Young: cap too defective to show the cres- 

 cent ; bill dark, much of the under mandible pale ; feet obscured. 

 Very small. Length, only 8.00-9.00 ; wing, 6.00-6.50 ; tail, 2.00- 

 3.50; bill, I.00-I.2J; tarsus, 0.67. 



The distribution of the Least Tern is nearly coincident 

 with that of the Roseate, being for the most part re- 

 stricted by Cape Cod in northward extension. 



The usual number of eggs of this species is two, not 

 three, and often only one is laid. They do not average 

 over 1.25x1.00, being therefore decidedly smaller than 

 those of the foregoing three species of Sterna, and diffi- 

 cult to find unless the birds are very numerous, because 

 their color closely assimilates that of their surround- 

 ings. The ground color varies from clear pale greenish- 

 white to pale dull drab or olivaceous. The markings 

 are numerous, and generally distributed, though they 

 frequently tend to wreathe around the large end, espe- 

 cially when they are of large size ; they consist of small 

 splashes, irregular spots, and mere dots of clear brown 

 of several shades, together with numerous pale, ill- 

 defined lilac or gray shell-markings. 



SOOTY TERN. 



Sterna fuliginosa Gm. 



Chars. No occipital crest ; bill and feet black. Above, brownish- 

 black, continuous from head to tail ; under parts, outer web of 

 outer tail-feather, and a frontal crescent, white. Very young 

 birds are fuliginous, speckled with white. Length, 15.00-17.00; 

 wing, 11.00-12.00; tail, 6.00-8.00; bill, 1.50-2.00; tarsus, 0.87. 



