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THE SANDWICH TERN. 



+ Sterna cantiaca, Gmel. 

 PLATE CCCCXXXI.— Adult. 



On the 26th of May, 1832, while sailing along the Florida Keys in Mr. 

 Thrttston's barge, accompanied by his worthy pilot and my assistant, I 

 observed a large flock of Terns, which, from their size and other circum- 

 stances, I would have pronounced to be Marsh Terns, had not the difference 

 in their manner of flight convinced me that they were of a species hitherto 

 unknown to me. The pleasure which one feels on such an occasion cannot 

 easily be described, and all that it is necessary for me to say on the subject 

 at present is, that I begged to be rowed to them as quickly as possible. A 

 nod and a wink from the pilot satisfied me that no time should be lost, and 

 in a few minutes all the guns on board were in requisition. The birds fell 

 around us; but as those that had not been injured remained hovering over 

 their dead and dying companions, we continued to shoot until we procured 

 a very considerable number. On examining the first individual picked up 

 from the water, I perceived from the yellow point of its bill that it was 

 different from any that I had previously seen, and accordingly shouted "A 

 prize! a prize! a new bird to the American Fauna!" And so it was, good 

 reader, for no person before had found the Sandwich Tern on any part of 

 our coast. A large basket was filled with them, and we pursued our course. 

 On opening several individuals, I found in the females eggs nearly ready for 

 being laid. The males, too, manifested the usual symptoms of increased 

 action in the organs distinctive of the sex. I felt a great desire to discover 

 their breeding grounds, which I had the pleasure of doing in a few days 

 after. 



The vigour and activity of this bird while on wing afforded me great 

 pleasure. Indeed its power of flight exceeds that of the Marsh Tern, which 

 I consider as a closely allied species. While travelling, it advances by 

 regular sharp flappings of its wings, which propel it forward much in the 

 manner of the Passenger Pigeon, when, single and remote from a flock, it 

 pushes on with redoubled speed. While plunging after the small mullets 

 and other diminutive fishes that form the principal part of its food, it darts 

 perpendicularly downwards with all the agility and force of the Common 



