534 SANDWICH TERN.
proportionally longer and narrower. Tail rather long, deeply forked, of
twelve feathers, the outer tapering to a point.
Bill black, excepting the tips, which are yellow; inside of the mouth
deep blue. Iris brown. Feet black. The upper part of the head,
occiput and part of hind neck bluish-black. Sides of the head, neck
all round, and the rest of the lower parts white, the breast frequently
tinged with pink. The fore part of the back, the scapulars and the
upper surface of the wings pale greyish-blue; the tips and the greater
parts of the inner webs of the scapulars, and quills white, as are the rump
and the tail; the four outer quills blackish, but covered with light grey
down, on the outer webs and over a considerable extent of the inner, their
shafts white.
Length to end of tail 15f inches, to end of wings 16 ft ; to end of
claws 12f; extent of wings 33f; wing from flexure tail 6; bill
along the back along the edge of lower mandible 9,\%\ tarsus 1 ^ ;
middle toe 9 |, its claw ft. Weight 6^ oz.
T
The Female is similar to the Male.
The young, after the first moult, are of a light greyish-blue colour
on the upper parts, the feathers tipped and banded in an undulating manner
with brownish-black ; the upper part of the head and the hind neck
are of the latter colour, but mottled with white. The quills are as in the
adult, the tail grey, with irregular brownish-black markings towards the
tips of the feathers. The lower parts are also pale grey, but much lighter
than the upper. The bill and feet are black, but the tip of the former
has not vet assumed a yellow tint.
( 535 )
THE BLACK TERN.
STERNA NIGRA, LINN.
PLATE CCLXXX. ADULT MALE AND YOUNG.
THE Black Tern begins to arrive from the Mexican territories over
the waters of the Western Country, about the middle of April, and continues
to pass for about a month. At that season I have observed it ascending
the Mississippi from New Orleans to the head waters of the Ohio,
then cutting over the land, and arriving at the Great Lakes, beyond
which many proceed still farther northward. But I have rarely met
• with them along our Atlantic shores until autumn, when the young, which,
like those of all other Terns with which I am acquainted, mostly keep by
themselves until spring, make their appearance there. Nor did I see a
single individuaLwhen on my way to Labrador, or during my visit to
that country. They re-appear in the Western Country, in the course of
their southern migration, in the months of September and October; but
many pairs breed in the intermediate range.
When residing at Louisville in Kentucky, I found the Black Tern
abundant in the neighbourhood, breeding on the margins of ponds at a
short distance from the Ohio. I also found them with nests and eggs on
a pond near Vincennes, in the State of Indiana. Now, however, they
have abandoned those places, and merely pass over the country on their
way to and from the northern regions.
Often have I watched their graceful light and rapid flight, as they
advanced and passed over in groups of twenty, thirty or more, from the
delightful residence of my worthy friend and kind relative NICHOLAS
BERTIIOUD, Esq. of Shippingport, during the month of May, when Nature,
opening her stores anew, benignly smiled upon the favoured land
of Kentucky. The gay birds were seen ranging from the basin at the
foot of the rapids to the lower part of the narrow channel which separates
Sandy Island from the shore, up the clear stream and down again, plunging
at short intervals into the water to seize their prey, and continuing
their pleasing occupations through the whole day. When the period of
reproduction arrived, they would all betake themselves to the ponds, and
search along their moist shores for tufts of rank grass such as might form