THE SOOTY TERN. 95 



dozen; but wherever these eggs are carried, they must soon be disposed of 

 and eaten, for they become putrid in a few weeks. 



On referring to my journals once more, I find the following remarks with 

 reference to the Sooty Tern. It would appear that at some period not very 

 remote, the Noddy, Sterna stolida, must have had it in contemplation to 

 appropriate to itself its neighbour's domains; as on examination of this 

 island, several thousand nests of that bird were found built on the tops of the 

 bushes, although no birds of the species were about them. It is therefore 

 probable that if such an attempt was made by them, they were defeated and 

 forced to confine themselves to the neighbouring island, where they breed 

 by themselves, although it is only a few miles distant. That such inter- 

 ferences and conflicts now and then occur among different species of birds, 

 has often been observed by other persons, and in several instances by myself, 

 particularly among Herons. In these cases, right or wrong, the stronger 

 party never fails to dislodge the weaker, and keep possession of the disputed 

 ground. 



Sterna fuliginosa, Bonap. Syn., p. 355. 



Sooty Tern, Sterna fuliginosa, Wils. Araer. Orn., vol. viii. p. 145. 



Sooty Tern, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 284. 



Sooty Tern, Sterna fuliginosa, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iii. p. 263; vol. v. p. 641. 



Male, 16*, 34|. 



From Texas to the Floridas, in spring. Breeds in immense multitudes on 

 the Tortugas. Migratory. 



Adult Male. 



Bill longer than the head, strong, slender, 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 inflected, the tip acute. Nasal groove extended to 

 beyond half the length of the bill, slightly inflected towards the edge; 

 nostrils basal, linear, direct, pervious. Lower mandible with the angle very 

 narrow, acute, extending to a little beyond the middle, the dorsal line 

 straight, the sides convex, the sharp edges inflected, the tip very acute. 



Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed; neck of moderate length; 

 body slender; feet very small, wings and tail very long. Tibia bare for a 

 short space; tarsus very short, slender, roundish, covered anteriorly with 

 small scutella, laterally and behind with reticulated rather indistinct scales; 

 toes small, slender, the first very small, the third longest, the fourth nearly 

 as long, the second much shorter, all scutellate above, the anterior united by 

 reticulated webs, having an incurved margin; claws curved, compressed. 



