SPECIES 4. STERNA PLUMBED.* 
SHORT-TAILED TERN. 
[Plate LX. — Fig. 3.] 
Peale’s Museum, JV*o. 3519. 
A SPECIMEN of this bird was first sent me by Mr. Beasley 
of Cape May; but being in an imperfect state, I could form no 
correct notion of the species; sometimes supposing it might be 
a young bird of the preceding Tern. Since that time, however, 
I have had an opportunity of procuring a considerable number 
of this same kind, corresponding almost exactly with each other. 
I have ventured to introduce it in this place as a new species; 
and have taken pains to render the figure in the plate a correct 
likeness of the original. 
On the sixth of September, 1812, after a violent north-east 
storm, which inundated the meadows of Schuylkill in many 
places, numerous flocks of this Tern all at once made their ap- 
pearance, flying over those watery spaces, picking up grasshop- 
pers, beetles, spiders, and other insects, that were floating on 
the surface. Some hundreds of them might be seen at the same 
time, and all seemingly of one sort. They were busy, silent 
and unsuspicious, darting down after their prey without hesita- 
tion, though perpetually harassed by gunners, whom the novelty 
of their appearance had drawn to the place. Several flocks of 
the Yellow-shanks Snipe, and a few Purres, appeared also in 
the meadows at the same time, driven thither, doubtless, by 
the violence of the storm. 
I examined upwards of thirty individuals of this species, by 
* Prince Musignano asserts that this is the young of the Sterna nigra, a bird 
inhabiting Europe as well as this country, and of which many nominal spe- 
cies have been made. In this opinion he is probably correct. 
VOL. III. K k 
