THE BIRD BOOK 



[76.] liiirnLED Teun. Sterna anaetheta. 



'^^' 



Range. — Found in tropical regions of both liem- 

 isplierea: casual or accidental in Florida. Thi.s 

 Tern is similar to the last except that the nape 

 is white and the" white of the forehead extends 

 in a line over the =eye. The Bridled Tern is com- 

 mon on some of the islands of the West Indies 

 and the Bahamas, nesting in company with the 



Bhu'k Tern 



Noddy 

 F>l;LOk Skinlmor 



Creamy white 



Sooty Terns and Noddies. The single egg is laid 

 on the seashore or among the rocks. It is creamy 

 white beautifully marked witli brown and lilac. 

 Size 1.8.5 X 1.25. Data.— Bahamas, May 9, 1892. 

 Single egg laid in a cavity among the roclts. Col- 

 lector. D. P. Ingraliam. 



77. BL.i( K Tehn. H fidrui-hclidon nigra 

 snrinamensis. 



Range. — Temperate America, breeding from the 

 middle portions of the United States northward 

 to Alaslca; south in winter beyond the United 

 States Border. 



The identity of these Terns cannot be mistaken 

 They are but ten inches in length; the whole Iiead, neck and under parts are 

 black; the back, wings and tail are slaty and the under tail coverts are white. 

 Their dainty figure with their long slender wings gives them a grace and airi- 

 ness, if possible, superior to other species ot tlie family. They are very active 

 and besides feeding upon all manner of marine 

 Crustacea, they capture many insects in tlie air. 

 They nest in large colonies in marshes, both along 

 the coast and in the interior, making a nest of 

 decayed reeds and grasses, or often laying their 

 eggs upon rafts of decayed vegetation whiclt are 

 lloating on he water. The nesting season coin- 

 mences in May, tliey laying three eggs ot a brown- 

 ish or greenish color, very heavily blotclied with 

 blackish brown. Size 1.35 x .95. Data. — Winne- 

 bago City, Minn., May 31, 1901. Three eggs. Nest 

 made of a mass of weeds and rushes floating on 

 water in a swamp. Collector, R. H, BuUis. 



»Lf It 



A'T-c-t-llish tirown 



56 



