ccviii 
Larid^. BIKDS. Proof, T,T, ARiTr> ;E. 
end of wings, foui-teen indies; extent of wing, twenty- 
nine and a quai-ter indies. 
AKCTIC TERN {Sterna macrura). — 'I'lie habitat of 
tliis species is lOurope, Asia, Africa, North America 
geneialiy, soiitli to the Middle States, and on the 
I’acific side to California. ]t breeds from Massachu- 
setts northward. 'I’he Arctic 'I'ern, after the winter 
tempests are over, is seen gliding along the coast, in 
company with other species. In tlie beginning of 
March, it is seen along the caves and creeks that 
enter into the sea. It is an extremely graceful bird, 
and readily attracts the attention of the most unob- 
serving for its peculiar buoyancy, and for the rapidity 
with which it dives for its food. It is, however, al- 
most invidious to compare, as the 'I’erns are all pos- 
sessed of exceeding grace and agility. At American 
Harbor, Nova Scotia, in June, they are to be seen in 
great numbers when they are breeding; no other 
species are seen then. Their eggs are esteemed as 
food, and furnish a wholesome diet to the inhabitants. 
Audubon says: “At the beginning of the first au- 
tumn, the plumage of the young so much resembles 
that of the young of Sterna hirundo that a person 
not paying attention to the tarsi and feet might 
readily confound them. Yet. even at this early age 
there are indications of the bluish tint on the under 
])arts. 'I’he longest tail-feathers at this jieriod do 
not extend more than two inches beyond the rest. 
'I'he ujiper parts of the body are mottled with brown, 
as in all the other species, and in Gulls. 'I’he mantle 
of this, as in all other 'I'erns, assumes its permanent 
hue before any part of the wings. The notes of this 
species resemble Greelc, creelc! and are often repeated 
when the bird is on the wing. The 'I’erns that breed 
in the cooler regions sit closely on their eggs, while 
those of the south only incubate during the night 
and in rainy weather.” 
ROSEATE TERN [Sterna paradhea). — 'I’he habitat 
of this 'I’ern is Europe, and that part of North 
America between Massachusetts and the Florida 
Keys ; and it is also seen in the West Indies, and in 
Central America. It siiends the breeding season 
along the southern shores of the Floridas in consid- 
erable numbers. AV'^e have seen it, in 1858-9, in 
the harbor of 'I’ortugas, and at Key West ; but 
since the more numerous settling of these keys, 
there has been a manifest falling off of visits 
from the various sea birds that once claimed a home 
there. 'I’liis is at all times a noisy bird, and rest- 
less ; it seems made to be continually on wing. It 
emits a sound, when approached during breeding- 
season, resembling GraJc. Its flight is unsteady, and 
not unlike that of the Night Hawk, but it is buoy- 
ant and full of grace. While in search of prey it 
sails along or fluttei'S over the sea with the bill down- 
war ds. Wh en a small fish is discovered near the sur- 
face, the 'I’ern plunges, with closed wings, and nearly 
disappears from sight. Like those of other species 
of 'I’erns, the eggs are excellent eating. They lay 
the eggs to be hatched on a shallow excavation in 
the sand. Length 14-i-§ ; extent of wing, 30. 
PORTLAND TERN [Sterna portlandiea) .~V\\\s is 
considered to be a new species. Mr. F. Benner pro- 
cured the specimen, which Mr. Ridgway has named 
as above, while the U. S. Fishery Commission had its 
headquarters in Portland Harbor. It is numbered 
64,394 in the Smithsonian Institution. Dr. Coues 
says of it: “It differs materially from any 'Tern 
which I have seen. * * * It apparently comes 
nearest dougalli, with which it is to be particularly 
compared.” A second specimen of portlandica has 
been taken by Mr. William Brewster in Massa- 
chusetts. It agrees exactly, except that the black 
cap is more restricted, the white reaching along the 
middle line over the vertex to the occiput (compris- 
ing our view of the instability of this character). It 
is slightly larger. Wing, 10.25; tail, 6.30; culmen, 
1.25 ; tarsus, 0.65 ; middle toe, roitlioui claw, 0.65. 
ALEUTIAN TERN (A. aleutica). — 'I’his is one of 
the species new to our Avi fauna, and, as its name 
implies, inhabits the Aleutian Islands. 'I’he type of 
the species is in the Smithsonian Institution, No. 
52,517. Collected in Kodiah, June 12, 1868. 
SOOTY TERN [S. fuliginosa) is a beautiful species, 
found in all parts of the warmer clime throughout 
the world, and is especially abundant on the 'I’ortugas 
Keys, where we found it was a constant companion 
of the Noddy during the breeding season. It builds 
upon the bushes, placing a few sticks in the most 
careless manner across the top branches, and depos- 
iting on this rude structure a single egg. Authors 
speak of two and three eggs being the usual number, 
but in all the years we have been familiar with this 
bird, we have never seen more than one egg to a nest. 
BRIDLED TERN {S. anosthceta). — 'I’his bird is given 
the same locality as the preceding. Audubon is au- 
thority for its occui-rence in Florida. 
BLACK TERN [Hydrochelidon lariformis). — Europe 
and North America generally are given as the local- 
ities for this species. Coues found it breeding in 
various parts of North-western America. 
NODDY TERN [Anous Htolidus) . — This has a habi- 
tat in the South Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of North 
America, in the Antilles, and south to Chili and 
Brazil ; also in Australia and the warmer portions of 
the world generally. 'I’he Noddy is found in 'I’ortu- 
gas in great numbers, breeding there in May and 
June. 'I’heir nests are constructed very rudely ujion 
the small shrubs called Bay Cedars. 
BLACK SKIMMER [EhyncTiops nigra). — Called also 
CuT-WATHR. 'I’he warmer parts of America, south to 
45°, is the favorite habitat of this bird. It is seldom 
seen above the Carolinas. On the Coast of North 
Carolina these birds are plentiful, where they con- 
tinue until November, feeding chiefly by night or in 
the dusk of evening, and reposing during the day on 
the sand-bars. 'They feed somewhat in the manner 
of Whales, by skimming along the surface. 
Family— PROCELLARHDAi:. 
'I’liE Petrels ; Albatrosses. 
SHORT -TAILED ALBATROSS {Diomedia iracTi- 
yura). — 'I’his is an abundant bird on the Pacific 
Coast. Its length is about three feet ; extent of 
wing, seven feet. Its characteristic feature is the 
