GULLS AND TERNS 
27 
were plentiful, every flock had adults in nuptial plumage, showing 
that the young are not without experienced leaders on the return 
north. ” 
GENUS XEMA. 
62. Xema sabinii (Safi.). Sabine Gull. 
Bill gull-like, tail conspicuously forked, the feathers rounded, not nar¬ 
row and pointed at ends. Adults in summer : head and upper 
neck dark plumbeous, bordered below by a black collar; man¬ 
tle slaty gray ; tail and middle of wing white; outer quills 
black, with inner webs and tips white ; under parts white ; 
bill black, tipped with yellow. Adults in winter : head and 
neck white, with dusky on ear coverts 
and back of head. Young: like winter 
adults, but mantle brownish, feathers 
with huffy or grayish edges ; tail with 
a subterminal black band, white tip 47- 
and base; bill black. Length: 13-14, wing 10.10-11.15, bill 1.00, tail 
4.50-5.00, fork .60-1.00 deep. 
Distribution. — Arctic regions of North America ; south in winter to 
Peru. Not common in the United States, but recorded from many scat¬ 
tered localities. 
Eggs. — Laid on the ground, or on a few grass blades and stems ; 2 to 5, 
olive, indistinctly spotted with brown. 
GENUS GELOCHELIDON. 
63. Gelochelidon nilotica ( Hasselq.). Gull-billed Tern. 
Bill stout, depth at base equal to one third of its length; tail forked. 
Adults in summer : top and back of head black ; upper parts light pearl 
gray; lower parts white; bill black; feet and legs blackish. Adults in 
winter: head and neck white ; ear coverts and spot in front of eye gray. 
Young: similar to winter adults, but upper parts washed with buffy and 
sometimes streaked with dusky. Length: 13.00-15.25, wing 11.75-12.25, 
bill 1.40, tail 5.50, forked for 1.50-1.75. 
Distribution. — Almost cosmopolitan. In America from Brazil to Massa¬ 
chusetts along the Atlantic coast, and both coasts of Mexico and Central 
America; rare inland. 
GENUS STERNA. 
General Characters. — Bill slender and sharp; tail deeply forked, the 
outer feathers narrowed or sharp-pointed ; wings very long and slender. 
KEY TO SPECIES. 
1. Black feathers of crown elongated into a crest. 
2. Size large, wing 14-15. maxima, p. 28. 
2'. Size smaller, wing 12.40-12.50 elegans, p. 29. 
1'. Head not crested. 
2. Size large, feet black. caspia, p. 28. 
2'. Size small, feet red, orange, or yellow. 
3. Crown and forehead black in summer adults, wing over 9. 
4. Outer web of outer tail feather white . . . forsteri, p. 29. 
4'. Outer web of outer tail feather dusky. 
5. Bill orange, with black tip. hirundo, p. 29. 
5'. Bill carmine, without black tip . . . paradisaea, p. 30. 
3'. Forehead always white, wing under 7 • • • antillarum, p. 30. 
