THE CAYENNE TERN. 79 



My surprise at finding this species breeding in Labrador was increased by 

 the circumstance of its being of rare occurrence at any season along the 

 coasts of our Middle and Eastern Districts. Nor does it become abundant 

 until you reach the shores of North Carolina, beyond which it increases the 

 farther south you proceed. It winters in the Floridas, and along the shores 

 of the Mexican Gulf; but I never saw it far up the Mississippi. While on 

 the coast of Newfoundland, on the 14th of August, I saw several individuals 

 on their way southward, flying very high, and keeping up their remarkable 

 cries. 



The flesh of every species of Tern is oily, like that of the Gulls and 

 Jagers, and the smallest hole made by shot affords an exit to the grease, 

 which is apt to destroy the beauty of their elastic plumage, so that it is very 

 difficult to preserve them, both on account of this circumstance, and of the 

 quantity of oil that flows from their bill. In no species have I found this to 

 be more remarkably the case than in the Cayenne Tern. 



The figure of the crab in the plate was introduced on account of its 

 singularly bright red colour, which, when the animal is boiled, changes to 

 pale yellow. It is rather common along the rocky shores of some of the 

 Florida Keys, and is excellent eating. 



Sterna cay ana, Bonap. Syn., vol. ii. p. 353. 



Cayenne Tern, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 208. 



Cayenne Tern, Sterna oayana, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iii. p. 505; vol. v. p. 639. 



Male, 19, 44. 



From Texas, in spring, to the Floridas, where it breeds on the Tortugas. 

 Labrador, but not observed in the intermediate parts of the Atlantic coast. 

 Abundant. Migratory. 



Adult Male in spring. 



Bill longer than the head, stout, nearly straight, compressed, very acute. 

 Upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly arched, the ridge broad and 

 convex at the base, narrowed towards the end, the sides convex, the edges 

 sharp and direct, the tip acute. Nasal groove short; nostrils basal, lateral, 

 linear, direct, pervious. Lower mandible with the angle very narrow, acute, 

 extending to the middle, the dorsal line straight, the sides slightly convex, 

 nearly erect, the sharp edges inflected, the tip very acute. 



Head rather large, oblong; neck of moderate length and thick; body 

 rather slender; feet short, stout. Tibia bare for a considerable space; tarsus 

 short, roundish, covered all round with small scales; first toe very small, 

 third longest, fourth a little shorter, the anterior connected by reticulated 

 webs having an incurved margin; claws slightly curved, compressed, acute, 



