FAM. LX. TERNS AND GULLS 



323 



1. Gull-billed Tern (63. Gelochelidon nilStica). — A southern, 

 black-capped, black-billed, black-footed tern, with the upper 

 parts,, including the wings, a light pearl-gray, and the lower 

 parts white ; tail 

 forked 11 inches, 

 nearly white. In 

 winter, this, like 

 most terns, loses its 

 blackcap; the crown 

 is white, space in 

 front of eyes black- 

 ish, and back of Gnll-billed Tem 



them grayish. A common tern on the southern coast, feeding 

 extensively on insects. The voice has a harshness similar to 

 that of the gulls. (Marsh Tern.) 



Length, 14; wing 12 (11|-12J); tail, 5}; tarsus, IJ ; culmen, If. 

 Nearly throughout the world, in North America chiefly along the Atlantic 

 and Gulf coasts ; breeding north to New Jersey, and wandering casually 

 to Massachusetts. 



2. Caspian Tern (64. Stirna tschegrclva). — Avery large, red- 

 billed tern, with the back of the neck, tail, and under parts 

 white, back and wings pearl-gray, and the primaries slaty- 

 black, with silvery outer webs. In spring, it has a black cap, 

 but after the breeding season and in winter, the top of the 

 head is merely streaked with black. The young has the pearl- 

 gray back, and tail spotted or barred with brownish-black, and 

 the head streaked black and white. This is a tern of world- 

 wide distribution, but is not common in North America. It is 

 in appearance, when seen on the wing, almost identical with 

 the next. 



Length, 21; wing, 16 (15-17 J); tail, 6, forked, 1|; tarsus, If; cul- 

 men, 2^-3|^. In North America, breeding locally from Virginia, the Great 

 Lakes, and Texas northward ; migrating through the interior as well as 

 along the coast, and probably wintering beyond our borders. 



3. Royal Tern (65. Sterna mdxima). — A very large, some- 

 what crested tern, with the back and wings pearl-gray, the 



