ROYAL TERN. 217 



ROYAL TERN. 



cayenne tern. gannet striker. 



Sterna maxima. 



Char. Mantle pearl gray; tail with less of the bluish tint; rump 

 nearly white ; crown and nape black ; primaries silvery gray, the inner 

 webs with a dark stripe next the shaft, and inner edge white ; under parts 

 white ; bill orange ; legs and feet black. Length i8 to 21 inches. 



After the mating season, — the spring months, — the crown becomes 

 more or less white, and in winter the nape also has white feathers mixed 

 with the black. 



Nest. No attempt is made to construct a receptacle for the eggs, which 

 are laid on the sand of a sea-beach or on the edge of a marshy lagoon. 



Eggs. 1-4 ; buffy or yellowish drab, marked with brown or pale lilac ; 

 average size about 2.65 X 1.75. 



Nuttall makes bare mention of this handsome bird, — la grande 

 Hirondelle-de-mer de Cayenne of Buffon, — knowing nothing of its 

 habits or distribution, and in error gives 5. caspia as a synonym; 

 but the Caspian Tern is a larger bird and quite distinct. Our bird 

 is not exclusively American, as Nuttall supposed, for Dalgleish 

 found it on the west coast of Africa. In the United States it is 

 confined chiefly to the tropical and warm temperate regions, sel- 

 dom ranging north of latitude 40°, though a few examples have 

 wandered to the Great Lakes and as far up the coast-line as 

 Massachusetts. 



The centre of its abundance is along the Gulf shore, the birds 

 being especially numerous in Florida and Texas, though they are 

 also rather common at Cobb's Island, Virginia. Mr. Chapman 

 says that " during the winter it is about the only Tern one sees in 

 Florida waters. It is a strong active bird on the wing, and a reck- 

 less dashing diver." 



The name of " Gannet-striker " — often shortened to " Gannet " 

 — has been given to the Royal Tern from its Gannet-like per- 

 formance of descending upon its prey from the wing, darting 

 down perpendicularly and swiftly, plunging under the surface of 

 the water, but soon reappearing, and mounting into the air again 

 with considerable difficulty. 



