152 
THE NATUKALIST’S GUIDE. 
in immature plumage. Its usual habitat is from Texas to 
Florida and the West Indies. 
274. Sterna hirundo, Linn. — Wilson^ s Tern. Abun- 
dant on the coast in summer. Breeds abundantly on the 
sandy beaches and islands. This species, and also S. ma- 
croura^ are called, by popular writers, Seamews.” They 
are also called Tide Gulls” and ‘‘Meous.” 
275. Sterna macroura, Naum. — Arctic Tern. Abun- 
dant summer resident. I do not think it winters. Breeds 
abundantly along the shore. Found it at Muskegat, breed- 
ing apart from the other species. There is no difference 
in the note between this and S. hirundo. 
The descriptions heretofore given of this bird have been 
meagre, and in many cases erroneous, tending to produce 
doubt as to its validity as a species. But as the specific 
characters are well defined, and certain of them so constant 
as fully to establish its claim as a species, I purpose to 
give here a full description of it, with a table of measure- 
ments. 
Sterna macroura, Naum. — Arctic Tern, Red-hilled Tern. 
Sterna macroura. 
u 
macrura. 
u 
macroura 
Sterna arctea 
u 
(( 
it 
u 
(4 
(t 
(( 
u 
n 
u 
Naum., Isis. 1819, 1847. 
Lawr., Birds N. Am. 1858, p. 862. 
CouEs, Proceedings Phil. Acad. N. S., Dec., 1862, 
p. 549. 
“Temm , Mar. d’Om., II., 1820, p. 742.” 
Bon., Syn. 1828, No 287, p. 354. 
Sw. «Sc Eich., F B a., II., 1831, p. 414. 
Nutt., Man., II., 1834, p. 275. 
Aud., Orn. Biog , III., 1835, p. 296. — Ib. Birds 
Am. VII. 1844, p. 107; PI. CCCCXXIV.^ 
Dr H. Bryant, Pro. Boston Soc. of Nat. Hist. VI, 
1858, p. 120. 
Sp. Ch. — Adult. Bill slender, slightly curved ; color, 
bright carmine. Top of head and hind neck, black. Neck, 
back, wing-coverts, scapularies, secondaries, breast, and 
^ Figures S. hirundo with black tip to bill. 
