LARINA. STERNA. 
321 
second plumage with the upper parts greyish-blue^ the feathers of the 
fore part of the back, and especially the scapulars, brown towards 
the end ; the upper and hind part of the head greyish-black, of which 
there is a darker mark behind and another before the eye ; forehead 
greyish-white, as are the sides of the head, the fore neck, breast, and 
abdomen ; sides dusky grey ; lower wing-coverts greyish- white. 
Adult j 9, 24. Young, in autumn, 7i ; wing, 
Arrives in Texas from the south early in spring, proceeds along the 
coast to the Mississippi, then ascends that river and its tributaries, 
breeding around ponds, or along the streams ; and even advances to 
the Fur Countries, where it also breeds. Abundant. Migratory, Oc- 
casionally along the coasts of the Middle Atlantic Districts. 
sterna nigra, Bonap, Syn. p. 355. 
Sterna nigra, Black Tern, Swains. & Rich, F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 415. 
Black Tern or Stern, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 282. 
Black Tern, Sterna nigra, Aud. Orn, Biog. v. iii, p. 593 5 v, v. p. 642. 
439.. 11. Sterna minuta, Linn, Least Tern, 
Plate CCCXIX. Adult and Young. 
Bill about the length of the head, slender, yellowish-orange, with 
the tips black, but the extreme points horn- colour ; feet light orange- 
red ; wings an inch or more longer than the tail, which is deeply fork- 
ed ; on the forehead a triangular white patch, extending to over the 
middle of the eye ; upper part of head and nape, and loral space, deep 
black ; sides of head, fore neck, and lower parts pure white ; back 
and wings very pale bluish-grey ; first two quills with the outer web 
greyish-black, and rather less than half of their inner web of the same 
colour, the rest white, extending to about half an inch from their ex- 
tremities ; tail white in summer, of a paler tint than the back at other 
times. Young, when fledged, with the bill greenish-black, all the 
lower parts dull greyish-white, as are the upper, including the tail, 
the hind part of the head streaked with dusky, on the back and rump 
the feathers with a curved marginal band of greyish-brown ; primary 
quills greyish-brown, the outer two darker tail even, each feather 
narrowly margined with greyish- white. 
Adult, 8|, 18|. 
Breeds from Galveston along the shores to Labrador. Not men- 
tioned as found in the Fur Countries. Returns southward, and passes 
beyond Texas in autumn. Extremely abundant at times on the Great 
Lakes, as well as the Ohio and Mississippi. 
Least Tern, Sterna minuta, WiLS. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 80, 
Sterna minuta, Bonap. Syn. p. 355. 
Silvery Tern, Sterna argentea, Nutt. Man* v. ii. p. 280. 
Least Tern, Sterna minuta, Aud. Orn. Biog, v. iv. p. 175. 
