80 TERNS.

Florida, and on the Atlantic coast to Virginia; occasionally wanders north- ward to the Great Lakes and Massachusetts.

Long Island, A.'V. in summer.

Eggs, one to four, more pointed than those of the preceding, grayish white, with rather small, distinct, and obscure chocolate markings, 2'65 x 1-75.

A common species on our southern coasts. During the winter it is about the only Tern one sees in Florida waters. It is a strong, active bird on the wing, and a reckless, dashing diver, frequently dis- appearing beneath the surface in catching its prey. The slow-flying Pelicans are at its mercy, and it often deftly robs them of their well- earned gains.

Both this species and the preceding, and indeed all the Terns, are to be known from the Gulls by the very different manner in which they hold their bills. A Tern points its bill directly downward. and looks, as Coues says, like a big mosquito, while a Gull’s bill points for- ward in the plane of its body.

67. Sterna. sandvicensis aacuflavida. (Cabot). CABor’s TEEN; SANDWICH TEEN. Ad. in spring—Whole top of the head and crest black; back and wings light pearl-gray; primaries silvery gray; the shaft part of the inner web white except at the tip; rest of the plumage white; feet and bill black, the latter with a conspicuous yellowish tip. Ad. after the breeding season and in minke—Similar to the above, but crown white, sometimes spotted with black; back of the head and crest more or less streaked with white. Inn—Similar to the preceding, but back spotted with blackish; tail slaty gray and much shorter: bill slightly if at all tipped with yellow. L., 16-00; W.,10-50; T., 5-50; B., 2-05.

Range—Tropical America, breeding on the Gulf coast from Texas to Florida, and on the Atlantic coast to South Carolina; accidental in Massa-

chusetts. Eggs, two to three, bufl‘y white, spotted, speckled, and scrawled with dis- tinct and obscure chocolate markings, 2-05 x 1'40.

This is an abundant summer resident on the coasts of southern Florida, and in winter is commdn as far north as Key West.

It is said by Audubon to somewhat resemble the Marsh Tern on the wing, and to have a loud, sharp, grating voice, which can be heard half a mile or more. I have never seen it alive, but I believe its yellow—tipped, black bill would enable one to identify it at some dis- tance.

TRUDEAU'S TERN (68. Sterne trudeam’) is a South American species which has been taken once on Long Island and once on the New Jersey coast.

69. stoma. forsteri Nutt. Fonsrim’s Tans. Ad. in summer:- Whole top of the head black; back and wings pearl-gray; inner border of inner web of the outer primaries white, except at the tip; rump and entire ‘