GREAT TERN. 
83 
opening door, rusted on its hinges. The bone of the skull is re- 
markably thick and strong, as also the membrane that surrounds 
the brain ; in this respect resembling the Woodpecker’s. In both, 
this provision is doubtless intended to enable the birds to support, 
without injury, the violent concussions caused by the plunging of 
the one, and the chiseling of the other. 
In the month of January I shot a female of this species, on 
the coast of Georgia, which measured fifteen inches in length ; bill 
to the angle of the mouth two inches and a quarter, dark horn co- 
lor, orange at base ; back, tail and wings, pale blue ash ; back part 
of the neck the same color, with a slight brownish tinge ; eye sur- 
rounded with black, which extends an inch beyond it ; upper part 
of the head, throat, lower parts and rump, pure white ; fork of the 
tail four inches long ; secondaries tipt with white ; inside of the 
mouth, feet and legs, orange. This was evidently a young bird ; 
and was killed in company with several having the perfect black 
cap. 
