NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA, 
549 
For a species so long known, the present has remarkably few synonyms. That 
of S. Wilsoni is the one which has been most firmly established. I quote S. 
fiaviatilis with a query on the authority of Temminck. This author, and also 
Degland, unhesitatingly refer it to the present species, while by some very re- 
cent authors* it is regarded as distinct. Eyton, in calling the bird S. marina , 
derives his authority for the specific name from the Hirundo marina , of Ray’s 
Synopsis, p. 131. Brisson’s Sterna major probably also refers to this species, 
but though both these latter names have priority over Linnaeus’ appellation, 
they are to be disregarded, as neither of their authors were binomalists. 
Sterna, macroura Naumann. 
Sterna hirundo, Faber, Prod. 1822, p. 88. Fabricius, Faun. Groenl. 1780, p. 
105. Nec Linn, nec Richards. 
Sterna macroura , Naum., Isis, 1819, p. 1847. Degland, Ornith. Europ. 1849, 
p. 344. Lawrence, Gen. Rep. Birds, 1858, p. 862. 
Sternq, arctica, Temm., Man. Orn. .1820, ii., 742, et auct. pleriq. 
Sterna nitzschii , Kaup, Isis, 1824, p. 153, secundum Gray. 
? Sterna brachytarsa , Graba, fide Gray. 
Diag. — St. rostro gracile, rubro ; pedibus brevissimis, rubris ; corpore ioto 
caerulescente-plumbeo, subtus dilutiore; cauda, uropygio, tectricij^^ue 
caudalibus inferioribus albis ; rectrice laterali valdti elongata, pogonio ex- 
terno griseo-'fusco. • < 
Habitat. — Europe. Atlantic Coast of North America from Massachusetts 
northward. Interior of Arctic America, (Hudson’s Bay, Great Slave Lake.) Semi- 
avine Straits. 
Examination of a very large series of- this species shows it to be subject to 
great variations in some respect^. ' 'These are’ especially noticeable in the bill 
and tail. The largest bill in the series measures 1-40 inches along the culmen ; 
the smallest (from Nova Scotia) only 1*08, — the difference being over *30 of 
an inch. The average length of bill is about 1-30. The tail varies in length 
quite as remarkably, the difference between two equally adult individuals being 
more than l£ inches. The color of the bill is pretty constant, — a uniform deep 
lake. Sometimes, however, it acquires a dusky tip, but never the decided black 
space which exists in S. hirundo and Forsteri. The bill is much smaller, and 
every way more delicately shaped than in those species. The under parts are 
nearly uniform in color. This is very decided, scarcely if at all lighter than 
the back, (very different from the slight wash of hirundo ,) and extends in full 
intensity quite from the throat to the vent, — the under tail coverts being pure 
white, in marked contrast. The under surface of the wings do not share the 
general color of the body, but are pure white. The feet are exceedingly short, 
and hardly vary appreciably. Their color is carmine, not so deep as the bill, 
but still not of the vermilion or coral red of those of hirundo. 
The distinctive features of this species and the S. hirundo, will be found under 
the head of S. Forsteri. They are so many, and so well marked, that it is difficult 
to conceive how the two species were ever confounded. The differences between 
it and S. Pikei , the next most closely allied species, are given under the head of 
the latter. There is no other North American species with which the present 
requires comparison. 
I have carefully examined a large series of examples from both continents, 
and have been unable to detect the slightest discrepancies. (fThis is one of the 
species of which, so far as I am aware, American and European specimens have 
never been separated by any writer.^ 
Temminck’s name of arctica has until recently been very' generally applied to 
this bird ; but that of Naumann must supersede it. Temminck admits that 
Naumann named the bird macroura before he called it arctica , but insists upon 
1862.] 
Des Murs, Traite Generate cl’Oologie Ornithologiqne, p. 551. 
