222 
SWIMMERS. 
CABOT’S TERN. 
SANDWICH TERN. 
Sterna sandvicensis acuflavida. 
Char. Upper parts pale pearl gray, much paler on rump and tail ; 
tail deeply forked; crown and nape black; under parts white tinged with 
pink ; bill black tipped with pale buff; legs and feet black. Length u to 
1 6 inches. , . , , 
iVest. A slight hollow scratched in the sand of a sea-beach or on a 
grassy island ; sometimes lined with grass or dry sea-weed. 
Km. 2-4 (usually 3) ; ground color varies from white through cream 
color to brownish buff; sometimes tinged with olive; the markings are 
varied, but always profuse, and of several shades of brown and pale gray ; 
sise variable, average about 2.00 X i-4°- 
Few species have a wider geographic range than the Sand- 
wich Tern. It was first observed in England by Mr. Boys, of 
Sandwich, where it is not uncommon, and was afterwards pub- 
lished by Latham. It is readily confounded with the Common 
Tern {Sterna hirutuio), but is superior in size, besides possessing 
other differences ; it is rather rare on other parts of the Eng- 
lish coast. It is believed to breed on the shores of Sandwich, 
and retires south in autumn, where it is probably afterwards 
seen migrating to the coast of Africa to pass the winter, and 
the young birds have been brought from the distant shores ot 
New Zealand. According to Temminck it is very abundant in 
the isles of North Holland, and chiefly frequents the sea-coast, 
though sometimes it has been known to wander into the inte- 
rior and visit fresh waters. In the Leverian Museum there 
existed, some years ago, a specimen of the young bird from 
South America ; but it was left for our indefatigable friend 
Audubon to discover this interesting cosmopolite within the 
boundary of the United States. In 1832 he with his party 
obtained a considerable number of specimens in summer 
plumage during the month of May in East Florida, and they 
were particularly abundant in the vicinity of Indian Key, about 
thirty miles from Cape Sable. In this place in the usual man- 
ner of the genus they breed together in large communities. 
