LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS 
65. Royal Tern. Sterna maxima. 
Range. — Temperate North and South America, 
breeding in the United States locally from Texas 
and the Gulf States northward to the northern 
boundary of the United States. 
The Royal Terns nest in great numbers on the 
coasts and islands on the South Atlantic and 
Gulf States and in the marshes of southern Texas. 
Grayish buff 
Like the former species they lay two or three 
eggs in a hollow on the bare sand. The eggs are 
the same size but differ in being more pointed 
and having a lighter ground and with the mark- 
ings more bold and distinct. Size 2.60 x 1.70. 
66. Elegant Tern. Sterna elegans. 
Range. — Pacific Coast of South and Central 
America; north to California in summer. 
A similar bird to the Royal Tern, but easilyGull-billed Tern 
Caspian Tern 
Royal Tern 
- V* .* 
/' cf I | „ 
„w Wx* / 
V:v ' - 
<gr - - 
' * r'-.’V 
Cream color 
distinguished by its smaller size, 
slender bill, and more graceful 
form. In the breeding plumage 
the under parts of these Terns 
are tinged with rosy, which 
probably first gave the birds 
their name. They breed on the 
coasts and islands of Mexico and 
Central America, placing their 
eggs on the sand. They are be- 
lieved to lay but a single egg, 
like that of the Royal Tern, but 
smaller. Size 2.40 x 1.40. Data. — 
Honduras, Central America, 
June 5, 1899. Single egg laid on 
the sandy beach. 
51 
