158 
MARSH TERN. 
STEBJVJ] JIBJIJVEJI. 
[Plate LXXII.— Fig. 6.] 
Veale's Museumy Ab. 3521. 
THIS new species I fii-st met with on the shores of Cape May, 
particularly over the salt marshes, and darting down after a kind 
of large black spider, plenty in such places. This spider can 
travel under water as well as above, and, during summer at least, 
seems to constitute the principal food of the present Tern. In se- 
veral which I opened, the stomach was crammed with a mass of 
these spiders alone; these they frequently pick up from the pools 
as well as from the grass, dashing down on them in the manner 
of their tribe. Their voice is sharper and stronger than that of 
the Common Tern; the bill is differently formed, being shorter, 
more rounded above, and thicker ; the tail is also much shorter, 
and less forked. They do not associate with the others ; but keep 
in small parties by themselves. 
The Marsh Tern is fourteen inches in length, and thirty-four 
111 extent ; bill thick, much rounded above, and of a glossy black- 
ness ; whole upper part of the head, and hind neck, black ; whole 
upper part of the body hoary white ; shafts of the quill and tail 
feathers pure white ; line from the nosti-il under the eye, and whole 
lower parts pure white ; tail forked, the outer feathers about an 
inch and three quarters longer than the middle ones ; the wings 
extend upwards of two inches beyond the tail ; legs and feet black, 
hind toe small, straight, and pointed. 
