Chapter 14

GENUS VI. PHAETON,Linn.TROPIC BIRD.

Bill as long as the head, stout, very much compressed, slightly curved, tapering, acute, opening to beneath the eye; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly arched, the ridge narrow, rounded, the sides sloping and slightly convex at the base, nearly erect towards the end, the edges sharp, direct, irregularly broken, the tip acuminate; nasal groove short, near the ridge, lower mandible with the angle long, and extremely narrow, the dorsal line straight and ascending, the sides erect and slightly convex, the tip acuminate. Nostrils basal, linear, very small. Head rather large, ovate; neck short and thick; body rather full. Feet very short; tibia bare for a considerable space; tarsus extremely short, roundish, covered with small round scales; toes rather small, placed in the same plane, and connected by reticulated webs; first very small, third a little longer than fourth, all scutellate above. Claws small, arched, compressed, rather sharp, that of the third toe with a thin entire inner edge. Plumage soft, blended, on the back rather compact. Wings long, acute, the first quill longest. Tail of twelve feathers, tapering, the two middle feathers extremely elongated, narrow, and tapering. This genus appears to be intermediate between Sula and Sterna.

427. 1. Phaeton æthereus,Linn.Common Tropic Bird.

Plate CCLXII.Male and Female.

Bill, tarsi, and hind toes yellow, the rest of the foot black; general colour of plumage pale pink, or white tinged with carmine, the two middle tail-feathers redder; a curved spot before the eye, and a short band behind it, black; a band of the same colour across the wing from the flexure, running narrow along the middle coverts, much enlarged on the inner secondaries and their coverts, and including the extremities of the scapulars; outer webs, shafts, and a portion of the inner webs of the first four primary quills, also black; and a spot of the same on some of the primary coverts; shafts of two middle tail-feathers black, unless toward the end; some of the elongated feathers on thehind part of the sides greyish-black in the centre. Female less tinged with red, and having the tail-feathers less elongated.

Male, 291/2, 38.Female, 26, 34.

Rare on the coast of Florida. Migratory.

Phaeton æthereus,Bonap.Syn. p. 409.Tropic Bird,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 503.Tropic Bird, Phaeton æthereus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 442.

Phaeton æthereus,Bonap.Syn. p. 409.

Tropic Bird,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 503.

Tropic Bird, Phaeton æthereus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 442.

FAMILY XLII. LARINÆ. GULLS.

Bill of moderate length, straight, compressed, acute; upper mandible with the dorsal line generally straight until toward the end, when it is decurved, the ridge convex, the nasal groove rather long, the edges sharp, direct, overlapping, the tip rather acute and declinate; lower mandible with the angle long and very narrow, the dorsal line ascending and nearly straight, with an angular prominence at its commencement. Nostrils submedial or basal, oblong. Head of moderate size, ovate; neck of moderate length; body rather stout. Legs short or of moderate length; tibia bare at its lower part; tarsus anteriorly scutellate; toes four, the first very small, free, the third longest; anterior toes connected by webs. Claws small, arched, compressed, rather acute. Plumage full, soft, blended, somewhat compact on the back and wings, the latter long and pointed; tail of twelve feathers, even, rounded, or emarginate. Tongue long, slender, pointed; œsophagus very wide; stomach rather small, moderately muscular, with a dense, longitudinally rugous epithelium; intestine of moderate length and width; cœca small; cloaca globular. Trachea simple, with a single pair of inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest on the ground, rudely constructed. Eggs few, not exceeding four, spotted. Young covered with down.

GENUS I. RHYNCHOPS,Linn.SKIMMER.

Bill longer than the head, nearly straight, tetragonal atthe base, suddenly extremely compressed and continuing so to the end; upper mandible much shorter than the lower, its ridge sharp, the sides erect but a little convex, the edges approximated so as to leave merely a very narrow groove between them, the tip a little rounded, when viewed laterally; nasal groove rather short, near the margin; lower mandible with the angle extremely short, the dorsal line straight or slightly decurved, the sides erect, obliquely grooved, the edges united into a very thin blade, which fits into the narrow groove of the upper mandible, the tip rounded or abrupt, when viewed laterally. Nostrils linear-oblong. Head rather large, oblong, considerably elevated in front; neck rather short, thick; body short, ovate. Feet short, moderately stout; tibia bare below, with narrow transverse scutella before and behind; tarsus short, anteriorly covered with broad scutella; toes very small, the first extremely short and free, unless at the base; middle toe slightly longer than outer; anterior toes united by deeply emarginate webs. Claws long, compressed, slightly arched, rather obtuse. Plumage moderately full, soft, and blended; wings extremely long, and very narrow; primary quills excessively long, the first longest; secondaries short. Tail of moderate length, deeply forked, of twelve feathers. Tongue short, triangular, tapering; œsophagus wide; stomach rather small, oblong, muscular, the cuticular lining dense, with nine broad longitudinal rugæ; intestine rather long, narrow; cœca very small; cloaca large, globular, the digestive organs are precisely similar to those of the Terns and smaller Gulls.

428. 1. Rhynchops nigra,Linn.Black Skimmer.

Plate CCCXXIII.Male

Bill rich carmine in its basal half, the rest black; feet carmine; upper plumage deep brownish-black; secondary quills and four or five of the primaries tipped with white, the latter on the inner web chiefly; tail-feathers black, broadly margined on both sides with white, theouter more extensively; the middle tail-coverts black, the lateral black on the inner, and white on the outer web; a broad band of white over the forehead, extending to the fore part of the eye; cheeks and throat of the same colour; the rest of the neck, and lower parts in spring and autumn of a delicate cream-colour; axillary feathers, lower wing-coverts, and a large portion of the secondary quills, white, the coverts along the edge of the wing black. Female smaller, similar to the male, but with the tail-feathers white, excepting a longitudinal band including the shaft. After the first autumnal moult, there is on the hind part of the neck a broad band of white mottled with greyish-black; the lower parts pure white, the upper of a duller black; bill and feet less richly coloured.

Male, 20, 48.Female, 163/4, 441/2.

During winter, in vast multitudes on the coast of Florida. In summer dispersed in large flocks from Texas to New Jersey, breeding on sand beaches or islands. In the evenings and at night ascends streams sometimes to the distance of one hundred miles.

Black Skimmer or Shear-water, Rhynchops nigra,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 85.Rhincops nigra,Bonap.Syn. p. 352.Black Skimmer,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 264.Black Skimmer or Razor-billed Shear-water, Rhynchops nigra,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 203.

Black Skimmer or Shear-water, Rhynchops nigra,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 85.

Rhincops nigra,Bonap.Syn. p. 352.

Black Skimmer,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 264.

Black Skimmer or Razor-billed Shear-water, Rhynchops nigra,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 203.

GENUS II. STERNA,Linn.TERN.

Bill longer than the head, rather stout or slender, nearly straight, compressed, very acute; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly arched, the ridge rather broad and convex at the base, gradually narrowed toward the end, sides convex, edges sharp and direct, tip acute; nasal groove short; lower mandible with the angle very narrow, acute, extending to the middle, the dorsal line straight, the sides slightly convex, nearly erect, the sharp edges inflected, the tips very acute. Nostrils basal, lateral, linear, direct. Head rather large, oblong; neck of moderate length and thick; body slender. Feet short, moderately stout; tibia bare for a considerable space; tarsus short, roundish, covered all round with small scales; first toe very small, third longest, fourth a little shorter; anterior toes connected by emarginate webs. Claws slightly curved, compressed, acute. Plumage soft, close, blended, rather compact on the back and wings.Wings extremely long, narrow, and pointed, the first quill longest, the rest rapidly graduated. Tail long, generally forked, of twelve feathers. Tongue very slender, tapering, with the point slit; œsophagus extremely wide; proventricular belt complete; stomach rather small, moderately muscular, with the epithelium dense and longitudinally rugous; intestine of moderate length, rather narrow; cœca small.

429. 1. Sterna Cayana,Lath.Cayenne Tern.

Plate CCLXXIII.Male.

Bill longer than the head, stout; wings longer than the tail, which is moderately forked; bill carmine; feet black; upper part of the head and occiput greenish-black; back and wings light greyish-blue; primary quills bluish-grey on their outer webs, darker on the outer part of the inner, their inner part white, as are the ends and inner webs of the secondaries; upper tail-coverts and tail greyish-white; all the other parts pure white.

Male, 19, 44.

From Texas, in spring, to the Floridas, where it breeds on the Tortugas. Labrador, but not observed in the intermediate parts of the Atlantic coast. Abundant. Migratory.

Sterna cayana,Bonap.Syn. v. ii. p. 353.Cayenne Tern,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 208.Cayenne Tern, Sterna cayana,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 505; v. v. p. 639.

Sterna cayana,Bonap.Syn. v. ii. p. 353.

Cayenne Tern,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 208.

Cayenne Tern, Sterna cayana,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 505; v. v. p. 639.

430. 2. Sterna Anglica,Montagu. Gull-billed Tern.—Marsh Tern.

Plate CCCCX.Male.

Bill about the length of the head, stout; wings longer than the tail, which is moderately forked; bill and feet black; upper part of the head and occiput greenish-black; sides of the head, fore neck, and all the lower parts, white; upper parts pale greyish-blue, edges of the wings whitish; primaries hoary on the outer web, deep grey on the inner, their shafts and those of the tail-feathers white; the tail of a paler tint than the back, and the outer feather nearly white.

Male, 14, 34.

Cosmopolite. In America, breeds from the mouth of the Mississippi to Connecticut. Not abundant. Migratory.

Marsh Tern, Sterna aranea,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 143.Sterna aranea,Bonap.Syn. p. 354.Marsh Tern, Sterna anglica,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 269.Marsh or Gull-billed Tern, Sterna anglica,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 127.

Marsh Tern, Sterna aranea,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 143.

Sterna aranea,Bonap.Syn. p. 354.

Marsh Tern, Sterna anglica,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 269.

Marsh or Gull-billed Tern, Sterna anglica,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 127.

431. 3. Sterna Cantiaca,Gmel.Sandwich Tern.

Plate CCLXXIX.Adult.

Bill considerably longer than the head, rather slender, black, with the tips yellow; inside of mouth deep blue; feet black; wings longer than the tail, which is deeply forked; upper part of head and hind neck bluish-black; sides of head, neck all round, and the rest of the lower parts white, the sides and breast tinged with pink; fore part of back, scapulars, and upper surface of wings pale greyish-blue; the tips and greater part of the inner webs of the scapulars and quills white, as are the rump and 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. Young, after the first moult, of a light greyish-blue on the upper parts, the feathers tipped and banded in an undulating manner with brownish-black; the upper part of the head and hind neck brownish-black mottled with white; quills as in the adult; tail grey, with irregular blackish markings towards the tips of the feathers; lower parts of a much lighter pale grey; bill and feet black.

Adult, 153/4, 333/4.

From Texas, during spring and summer, to the Floridas, where it breeds in great numbers. Never observed in any other part of the coast of America. Migratory.

Sandwich Tern.Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 276.Sandwich Tern, Sterna cantiaca,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 531.

Sandwich Tern.Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 276.

Sandwich Tern, Sterna cantiaca,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 531.

432. 4. Sterna fuliginosa,Lath.Sooty Tern.

Plate CCXXXV.

Bill slightly longer than the head, rather slender, and with the feet black; tail very deeply forked, much longer than the wings; forehead white; lores, upper part of head, hind neck, and all the upper parts deep black, tinged with brown, on the head glossed with blue; edges of wings and lateral tail-feathers white, the latter with the inner web toward the end dusky; lower parts and sides of head and neck pure white. Young with the lower parts and forehead white, the upper parts greyish-brown, the feathers edged with brownish-white, the primary quills greyish-black.

Male, 161/4, 343/4.

From Texas to the Floridas, in spring. Breeds in immense multitudes on the Tortugas. Migratory.

Sterna fuliginosa,Bonap.Syn. p. 355.Sooty Tern, Sterna fuliginosa,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 145.Sooty Tern,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 284.Sooty Tern, Sterna fuliginosa,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 263; v. v. p. 641.

Sterna fuliginosa,Bonap.Syn. p. 355.

Sooty Tern, Sterna fuliginosa,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 145.

Sooty Tern,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 284.

Sooty Tern, Sterna fuliginosa,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 263; v. v. p. 641.

433. 5. Sterna Hirundo,Linn.Common Tern.

Plate CCCIX.Male.

Bill about the same length as the head, rather slender, bright coral-red, towards the end black, the tip light yellow; feet coral-red, lighter than the bill; wings slightly shorter than the tail, which is very deeply forked; upper part of head and hind neck half-way down, deep bluish-black, anteriorly tinged with brown; sides of head, fore neck, and all the lower parts white, with a slight tinge of greyish-blue on the breast; back, scapulars, and wings light greyish-blue; edges of wings, rump, and upper tail-coverts white, slightly tinged with grey; first primary with the outer web deep black, the shaft white, on the inner web a greyish-black band running along the shaft, narrow at the base, and widening, so as to occupy the whole breadth of the web for an inch at the end, where it is hoary; the next five with the outer web, and a varying portion of the inner in nearly their whole length hoary, but with a dusky shade, becoming more apparent at the end; the rest of the quills like the back, but margined and tipped with white; tail-feathers with the inner webs white, the outer of the colour of the back, paler on the middle feathers, gradually deepening outwards, and on the outer feathers dark grey. Young, in first plumage, with the bill dull greenish-black, its tip yellowish, feet greenish-yellow; upper parts chiefly light brown. In winter, the bill black, with the base pale orange, the tip yellowish, the feet orange-yellow; the colour of the plumage as in the adult, the forehead white, the rest of the head dusky, the upper parts having the feathers slightly margined with lighter.

Male, 16, 311/2.

Breeds from Galveston Islands along the shores of the Atlantic to Labrador, and as far north as Lat. 57°. Returns southward in autumn, passing beyond the Texas. Extremely abundant.

Great Tern, Sterna Hirundo,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 76.Sterna Hirundo,Bonap.Syn. p. 354.Sterna Hirundo, Great Tern,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 412.Great or Common Tern,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 271.Common Tern, Sterna Hirundo,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 74.

Great Tern, Sterna Hirundo,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 76.

Sterna Hirundo,Bonap.Syn. p. 354.

Sterna Hirundo, Great Tern,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 412.

Great or Common Tern,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 271.

Common Tern, Sterna Hirundo,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 74.

434. 6. Sterna Havellii,Aud.Havell's Tern.

Plate CCCCIX.Fig. 1. Adult.

Bill about the length of the head, rather stout; wings a little shorter than the tail, which is deeply forked. In winter, the bill black, towards the base brown, and a small portion of the tip yellowish; feet orange; a broad band of black surrounding the eye, and extending toward the nape; fore part of head, cheeks, and all the lower parts pure white; hind head and nape dusky grey, mixed with white; the restof the upper parts light greyish-blue, excepting the rump, which is white; the primary coverts and quills, as well as the tail-feathers and their coverts, hoary, with the shafts white, but five of the quills dusky on the outer web, on the inner along the shaft, and on the inner margin toward the end. Young, in winter, with the bill somewhat shorter, and more tinged with brown, the lower parts, rump, outer web of lateral tail-feathers, and sides of neck, white; wings as in the adult, but the primaries internally margined with white, and the secondaries tipped with the same; upper part of the head, and the rest of the upper parts, light yellowish-brown, intermixed with greyish-blue; a band of black on the sides of the head, as in the adult.

Adult, 151/2, wing, 108/12.

From Texas to South Carolina. Common. Migratory.

Havell's Tern, Sterna Havelli,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 122.

435. 7. Sterna Trudeaui,Aud.Trudeau's Tern.

Plate CCCCIX.Fig. 2. Adult.

Bill about the length of the head, rather slender; wings a little longer than the tail, which is deeply forked. Bill black, with part of the base of the lower mandible, the edges of both, and their tips to the length of five-twelfths of an inch, yellow; feet orange, claws brown, toward the end yellow; a band of blackish-grey surrounding the eye, and extending toward the nape; fore part of head, cheeks, and upper part of throat, white; the rest of the upper and lower parts light greyish-blue, excepting the axillar feathers, lower wing-coverts, and rump, which are white; tail-coverts and tail greyish-white; primary coverts and quills hoary, but the outer five dusky grey on the inner web, toward the margin, and less so along the shaft, and on the outer web; the shafts of all the quills and tail-feathers white, as are the inner edges of the primaries and tips of the secondaries, the inner excepted. This species has the bill somewhat longer and more slender than that of Havell's Tern, and differently coloured; the tarsus longer, and the lower parts of the body of the same tint as the upper, whereas that species is white beneath.

Adult, 16; wing, 1010/12.

Great Egg Harbour and Long Island. Rare. Migratory.

Trudeau's Tern, Sterna Trudeaui,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 125.

436. 8. Sterna arctica,Temm.Arctic Tern.

Plate CCL.Male.

Bill about the same length as the head, slender, and with the mouth and feet vermilion, tinged with carmine; wings about two inches shorter than the tail, which is very deeply forked; upper part of headand occiput greenish-black; sides of head and chin white; upper parts pale greyish-blue, the rump bluish-white, the tail and its coverts white, excepting the outer webs of the two lateral feathers, which are dusky grey; primaries dusky towards the ends, the two outer with their outer webs blackish, all with the greater part of the inner web white, secondaries tipped with white; neck, breast, and sides, pale greyish-blue, like the upper parts, but lighter; abdomen, lower tail-coverts, and lower surfaces of wings and tail, white.

Male, 151/2, 32.

Along the coast of the Atlantic in autumn and winter, sometimes as far as New Jersey. Common in Maine, Nova Scotia, and Labrador, where it breeds in multitudes, as well as on the Magdalene Islands, and on the shores of the Arctic Seas. Migratory.

Sterna arctica,Bonap.Syn. p. 354.Sterna arctica, Arctic Tern,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 414.Arctic Tern,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 275.Arctic Tern, Sterna arctica,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 366.

Sterna arctica,Bonap.Syn. p. 354.

Sterna arctica, Arctic Tern,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 414.

Arctic Tern,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 275.

Arctic Tern, Sterna arctica,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 366.

437. 9. Sterna Dougallii,Mont.Roseate Tern.

Plate CCXL.Male.

Bill about the same length as the head, slender, brownish-black, deep orange at the base; feet vermilion; wings about three inches shorter than the tail, which is very deeply forked; upper part of the head and occiput bluish-black; hind neck white; the rest of the upper parts pale bluish-grey, the tail lighter; edges of wings, tips and inner edges of quills, and their shafts, white; first quill black on the outer web and part of the inner, the next two similarly marked, but with the black shaded over with pale grey, the loose barbules being of that colour, the other primaries becoming gradually lighter; lower parts of a beautiful roseate hue, soon fading after death; under surface of wings and tail white.

Male, 1410/12, 30.

Florida Keys, where it is abundant, and breeds. Migratory.

Sterna Dougallii,Mont. Temm.Roseate Tern,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 278.Roseate Tern, Sterna Dougallii,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 296.

Sterna Dougallii,Mont. Temm.

Roseate Tern,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 278.

Roseate Tern, Sterna Dougallii,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 296.

438. 10. Sterna nigra,Linn.Black Tern.

Plate CCLXXX.Adult and Young.

Bill about the same length as the head, rather slender, brownish-black; feet reddish-brown; wings two inches longer than the tail, which is merely emarginate; head, neck, breast, sides, and abdomen, greyish-black; lower tail-coverts white, lower wing-coverts bluish-grey; upper parts dark bluish-grey, the outer web of the first quill greyish-black; shafts of quills and tail-feathers white. Young insecond plumage with the upper parts greyish-blue, the feathers of the fore part of the back, and especially the scapulars, brown towards the end; the upper and hind part of the head greyish-black, of which there is a darker mark behind and another before the eye; forehead greyish-white, as are the sides of the head, the fore neck, breast, and abdomen; sides dusky grey; lower wing-coverts greyish-white.

Adult, 9, 24.Young, in autumn, 73/4; wing, 98/12.

Arrives in Texas from the south early in spring, proceeds along the coast to the Mississippi, then ascends that river and its tributaries, breeding around ponds, or along the streams; and even advances to the Fur Countries, where it also breeds. Abundant. Migratory. Occasionally along the coasts of the Middle Atlantic Districts.

Sterna nigra,Bonap.Syn. p. 355.Sterna nigra, Black Tern,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 415.Black Tern or Stern,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 282.Black Tern, Sterna nigra,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 593; v. v. p. 642.

Sterna nigra,Bonap.Syn. p. 355.

Sterna nigra, Black Tern,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 415.

Black Tern or Stern,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 282.

Black Tern, Sterna nigra,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 593; v. v. p. 642.

439. 11. Sterna minuta,Linn.Least Tern.

Plate CCCXIX.Adult and Young.

Bill about the length of the head, slender, yellowish-orange, with the tips black, but the extreme points horn-colour; feet light orange-red; wings an inch or more longer than the tail, which is deeply forked; on the forehead a triangular white patch, extending to over the middle of the eye; upper part of head and nape, and loral space, deep black; sides of head, fore neck, and lower parts pure white; back and wings very pale bluish-grey; first two quills with the outer web greyish-black, and rather less than half of their inner web of the same colour, the rest white, extending to about half an inch from their extremities; tail white in summer, of a paler tint than the back at other times. Young, when fledged, with the bill greenish-black, all the lower parts dull greyish-white, as are the upper, including the tail, the hind part of the head streaked with dusky, on the back and rump the feathers with a curved marginal band of greyish-brown; primary quills greyish-brown, the outer two darker; tail even, each feather narrowly margined with greyish-white.

Adult, 83/4, 183/4.

Breeds from Galveston along the shores to Labrador. Not mentioned as found in the Fur Countries. Returns southward, and passes beyond Texas in autumn. Extremely abundant at times on the Great Lakes, as well as the Ohio and Mississippi.

Least Tern, Sterna minuta,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 80.Sterna minuta,Bonap.Syn. p. 355.Silvery Tern, Sterna argentea,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 280.Least Tern, Sterna minuta,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 175.

Least Tern, Sterna minuta,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 80.

Sterna minuta,Bonap.Syn. p. 355.

Silvery Tern, Sterna argentea,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 280.

Least Tern, Sterna minuta,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 175.

* Tail graduated.

440. 12. Sterna stolida,Linn.Noddy Tern.

Plate CCLXXV.Male.

Bill a little longer than the head, rather slender, a little decurved, black; tail cuneate; general colour of plumage sooty-brown; primaries and tail-feathers brownish-black; upper part of head greyish-white; a black spot anterior to and over the eye.

Male, 164/12, 32.

Abundant on the Gulf of Mexico during the whole year. Breeds in vast multitudes on the Tortugas Keys.

Sterna stolida,Bonap.Syn. p. 356.Noddy,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 285.Noddy Tern, Sterna stolida,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 516; v. v. p. 642.

Sterna stolida,Bonap.Syn. p. 356.

Noddy,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 285.

Noddy Tern, Sterna stolida,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 516; v. v. p. 642.

GENUS III. LARUS,Linn.GULL.

Bill shorter than the head, nearly straight, moderately stout, compressed; upper mandible with its dorsal outline straight to the middle, then decurved, the ridge convex, the sides rapidly sloping, the edges sharp and direct, the tip rather obtuse; nasal groove rather long and narrow; nostrils submedial, longitudinal, linear-oblong, broader anteriorly; lower mandible, with the angle long and pointed, the outline of its crura decurved anteriorly, that of the ridge slightly concave and ascending, the sides erect, the edge-line decurved toward the tip, which is narrow but obtuse. Head of moderate size, broadly ovate; neck of ordinary length; body compact. Feet rather long or of moderate length, rather stout; tibia bare at the lower part; tarsus moderately compressed, with numerous curved anterior scutella, and smaller behind; toes slender, of moderate length, scutellate; first very small, third a little longer than fourth. Claws small, slightly arched, compressed, rather blunt. Plumage close, soft, blended, on the back and wings rather compact. Wings very long, pointed; first and second quills longest; secondaries broad, the inner more elongated. Tail of moderate length, generally even, rarely rounded or emarginate,of twelve feathers. In those which have the head white in summer, it is streaked with dusky in winter; and those which are hooded in summer, have the head white and slightly streaked in winter.

* Tail emarginate.

441. 1. Larus Sabini,Sabine. Fork-tailed Gull.

Plate CCLXXXV.Fig. 1, Male.

Tail of moderate length, forked; bill of moderate length, rather slender, black, with the terminal third yellow; feet black; head and upper part of neck all round blackish-grey, that colour terminated by a collar of pure black; lower neck all round, the whole lower surface, upper tail-coverts, and tail, pure white; back and wings bluish-grey, excepting a large terminal portion of the secondaries, and the tips of the primaries, which are white, the primaries themselves being black, with their shafts brownish-black.

Male, 13, 33.

Accidental as far south in winter, as New York. Rather common along the coast of Nova Scotia. Breeds in Newfoundland, and along the coasts of the Arctic Seas. Seen on the banks of Newfoundland in great numbers.

Larus Sabini, Fork-tailed Gull,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 428.Fork-tailed Gull,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 295.Forked-tailed Gull, Larus Sabini,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 561.

Larus Sabini, Fork-tailed Gull,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 428.

Fork-tailed Gull,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 295.

Forked-tailed Gull, Larus Sabini,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 561.

** Tail cuneate.

442. 2. Larus Rossii,Richardson. Ross's Gull.

Not figured.

Tail much rounded, the middle feathers being an inch longer than the lateral; bill of moderate length, slender, black; feet vermilion; head, neck, all round, lower parts, rump and tail, white, the lower parts tinged with pink, which soon fades; a narrow collar of black; fore part of back, scapulars, and both surfaces of wings light greyish-blue; tips of scapulars and secondaries white.

Adult, 14; wing 101/2.

Arctic Seas.

Larus Rossii, Cuneate-tailed Gull,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 427.Ross's Gull, Larus Rossii,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 324.

Larus Rossii, Cuneate-tailed Gull,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 427.

Ross's Gull, Larus Rossii,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 324.

*** Tail even.

443. 3. Larus Bonapartii,Richardson. Bonaparte's Gull.

Plate CCCXXIV.

Bill slender, black; feet orange, tinged with vermilion; head and upper part of neck all round greyish-black, that colour extending half an inch lower on the throat than on the occiput; a white band divided by a narrow black line margining the eye behind; lower part of neck all round, anterior edge of wing, alular, smaller coverts on the carpal margin, four outer primary coverts, shaft and inner web of outer primary, both webs of second, inner webs of third and fourth, rump, tail, and all the lower parts, white; back, scapulars, and wings light greyish-blue; outer web of first quill, excepting a small portion toward the end, its tips to the length of half an inch, black, as are the ends of the next six, which however have a small tip of white, the black on some of them being an inch long, and running along the inner edge to a considerable extent. Female somewhat smaller, similar to the male, but with the head and upper part of the neck umber-brown. Young in second plumage with the bill greyish-black, the feet flesh-coloured; head and neck greyish-white; a small patch of black behind the eye; upper parts dull bluish-grey, many of the wing-coverts greyish-brown, edged with paler; quills as in the adult; rump and tail white, the latter with a broad band of black at the end, the tips narrowly edged with whitish.

Adult, 141/8, 321/4.

Extremely abundant in winter, on the coast of Florida. Equally plentiful in spring, along the coasts of the Middle and Eastern Districts, especially in the Chesapeake. Breeds from the Bay of Fundy to high latitudes. Not uncommon in autumn, on the Great Lakes, and the Ohio and Mississippi.

Brown-masked Gull, Larus capistratus,Bonap.Amer. Orn. v. iv. Female.Larus capistratus,Bonap.Syn. p. 358.Larus Bonapartii, Bonapartian Gull,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 425.Bonapartian Gull,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 294.Bonapartian Gull, Larus Bonapartii,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 212.

Brown-masked Gull, Larus capistratus,Bonap.Amer. Orn. v. iv. Female.

Larus capistratus,Bonap.Syn. p. 358.

Larus Bonapartii, Bonapartian Gull,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 425.

Bonapartian Gull,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 294.

Bonapartian Gull, Larus Bonapartii,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 212.

444. 4. Larus Atricilla,Linn.Black-headed Gull.—Laughing Gull.

Plate CCCXIV.Male and Young.

Bill moderately stout, and with the feet, margin of eyelids, and inside of mouth deep carmine; wings extending three inches beyond the tail, which is even; head and upper neck all round blackish lead-grey, darker on the upper part of the head and along the posterior margin, which descends lower in front, or to the extent of about two inches and a half from the base of the lower mandible; two narrow white bands bordering the upper and lower eyelids; lower neck all round, the whole lower surface, rump and tail white, but the fore part of the neck and the breast down to the legs, of a beautiful light rosy tint; back and wings greyish-blue, with a slight tinge of purple, exceptinga large terminal portion of the secondaries, and the tips of the primaries, which are white; first primary black, with a tinge of grey on the inner web at the base; second and third similar, with the grey more extended; the fourth with it extending over two-thirds, the fifth black only for an inch and a half, on the sixth the black reduced to two spots near the end; the other parts and the remaining primaries of the same general colour as the back. Female similar, but considerably smaller. In winter, the head white, the feathers on its upper part and the nape more or less brownish-grey in their concealed part, that colour appearing in slight patches here and there, and especially along the posterior margin of the part that is coloured in summer, as well as on a small space before the eye; in other respects the plumage as in summer, but without the rosy tint. Young, when fledged, with the bill, feet, inside of mouth, and edges of eyelids olivaceous brown; upper parts brownish-grey, the feathers edged with paler; hind part of back light bluish-grey; upper tail-coverts nearly white; tail pale greyish-blue, with a broad band of brownish-black at the end, the extreme tips narrowly edged with white, the outer margin of the lateral feathers of the same colour; the first four primaries destitute of white at the tip; a small patch before the eye, two slight bands on the eyelids, and the throat, greyish-white; lower part of neck brownish-grey; the rest of the lower parts greyish-white, the sides darker, the axillars ash-grey, lower surface of wing dusky grey.

Adult, 17, 403/4.

Most abundant from Texas to Massachusetts, breeding along the coast. Up the Mississippi to New Orleans. Those which in spring remove to the eastward of the Floridas return early in autumn.

Black-headed Gull, Larus ridibundus,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. ix. p. 89.Larus atricilla,Bonap.Syn. p. 359.Black-headed Gull,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 291.Black-headed or Laughing Gull, Larus atricilla,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 118.

Black-headed Gull, Larus ridibundus,Wils.Amer. Orn. v. ix. p. 89.

Larus atricilla,Bonap.Syn. p. 359.

Black-headed Gull,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 291.

Black-headed or Laughing Gull, Larus atricilla,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 118.

445. 5. Larus Franklinii,Richardson. Franklin's Rosy Gull.

Not figured.

"Bill rather stout, and with the feet vermilion; mantle pearl-grey; wings an inch and a half longer than the tail, which is even; five exterior quills barred with black, the first one tipped with white for an inch; tarsus twenty lines long; hood black in summer. Both eyelids, the neck, rump, tail, and whole under plumage white, the latter and interior of the wings deeply tinged with peach-blossom red; black hood covering three-quarters of an inch of the nape, and extending as much lower on the throat; mantle and wings bluish-grey; the outer web of the first quill-feathers is black to near the top, and a broad band of the same crosses the ends of the five outer primaries; all the quill-feathers are terminated with white, that of the first primary andof all the secondaries being upwards of an inch long; all the shafts whitish."

Male, 17, wing, 11.

Interior of Fur Countries, breeding on the edges of large lakes.

Larus Franklinii, Franklin's Rosy Gull,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii p. 424.Franklin's Rosy Gull, Larus Franklinii,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 323.

Larus Franklinii, Franklin's Rosy Gull,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii p. 424.

Franklin's Rosy Gull, Larus Franklinii,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 323.

446. 6. Larus tridactylus,Linn.Kittiwake Gull.

Plate CCXXIV.Adult and Young.

Bill moderately stout, greenish-yellow; feet black, with the hind toe rudimentary, and furnished with a minute knob in place of the claw; head, neck, rump, tail, and lower parts pure white; back and upper surface of wings light greyish-blue; the first five quills black at the end, the first on its outer web also; the fifth with a small white tip; the tips of all the other quills more or less white. Young in its second plumage with the bill and feet black; hind head and neck bluish-grey; a semilunar blackish mark before the eye; tips of auriculars dark grey; forehead, sides of head, throat, and lower parts, white, as are the rump and tail, the latter with a broad terminal band of black; mantle bluish-grey, with a broad band of black crossing the lower part of the hind neck; larger wing-coverts of the same colour toward the end; primary quills black, more or less margined with white internally.

Adult, 18, 361/2.

Common as far south as New York. Abundant from Massachusetts eastward. Breeds from the Bay of Fundy northward.

Larus tridactylus,Bonap.Syn. p. 359.Larus tridactylus, Kittiwake,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 423.Kittiwake,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 298.Kittiwake Gull, Larus tridactylus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 186.

Larus tridactylus,Bonap.Syn. p. 359.

Larus tridactylus, Kittiwake,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 423.

Kittiwake,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 298.

Kittiwake Gull, Larus tridactylus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 186.

447. 7. Larus eburneus,Gmel.Ivory Gull.

Plate CCLXXXVII.

Bill moderately stout, yellow, feet black; wings an inch and a half longer than the tail; plumage pure white. After the second moult, the bill dusky for two-thirds, yellow at the end, feet black; plumage white, the forehead and sides of the head mottled with leaden-grey, most of the wing-coverts with, a greyish-black spot towards the end; the quills, large coverts, and tail-feathers similarly marked, the markings on the tail forming a subterminal bar.

Adult, 19, 41.

Accidental on the coast of the United States. Common in winter in Labrador and Newfoundland. Breeds in high latitudes.

Larus eburneus,Bonap.Syn. p. 360.Larus eburneus, Ivory Gull,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer.

Larus eburneus,Bonap.Syn. p. 360.

Larus eburneus, Ivory Gull,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer.

Ivory Gull,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 301.Ivory Gull, Larus eburneus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 571.

Ivory Gull,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 301.

Ivory Gull, Larus eburneus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 571.

448. 8. Larus zonorhynchus,Richardson. Ring-billed Gull.—Common American Gull.

Plate CCXII.Adult and Young.

Bill stout, compressed, greenish-yellow, with a broad band of black opposite the prominence; wings two inches and a half longer than the tail; feet greenish-yellow; general colour of the plumage pure white, excepting the back and upper surface of the wings, which are light greyish-blue; the first-six quills black towards their extremities, the first and second being almost entirely so, the sixth with only a small spot; the tips of these feathers white, the first moreover with a long patch of white, over its whole breadth, the second with a smaller patch, not occupying the entire breadth, sometimes confined to the inner web, the other quills white at the end. Young after second moult with the bill black, the feet purplish-grey; general colour of plumage dull white, mottled with greyish-brown beneath, on the back with large brownish-black spots, the dark markings being central; anterior to the eye a crescent of greyish-black; outer primary quills black, terminally edged with white.

Adult, 20, 48.

Common during winter from Texas, along the coast, to Maine. Up the Mississippi to Natchez. Breeds from Maine to Labrador, Hudson's Bay, and Arctic shores. Columbia River. Migratory.

Larus canus, Mew or Common Gull,Rich. & Swains.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 420.Larus zonorhynchus, Ring-billed Mew-Gull, Ibid. p. 421.Larus brachyrhynchus, Short-billed Mew-Gull, Ibid. p. 422.Ring-billed Mew-Gull,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 300.Common American Gull, Larus zonorhynchus.Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 98; v. v. p. 638.

Larus canus, Mew or Common Gull,Rich. & Swains.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 420.

Larus zonorhynchus, Ring-billed Mew-Gull, Ibid. p. 421.

Larus brachyrhynchus, Short-billed Mew-Gull, Ibid. p. 422.

Ring-billed Mew-Gull,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 300.

Common American Gull, Larus zonorhynchus.Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 98; v. v. p. 638.

449. 9. Larus leucopterus,Fabr.White-winged Silvery Gull.

Plate CCLXXXII.Adult and Young.

Bill stout, gamboge-yellow, with a spot of orange-red near the end of the lower mandible; angle of the mouth and edges of eyelids orange-red; feet pale flesh-colour; wings more than two inches longer than the tail; plumage pure white, excepting the back and upper surface of the wings, which are light greyish-blue; the tips of the secondaries, the terminal third of the primaries, and the upper tail-coverts, also white. Young in second plumage with the bill yellow, tipped with black, the feet yellowish flesh-colour; plumage yellowish-grey, marked on the head and neck with longitudinal streaks of pale brown, on the back and wings with transverse undulations, those on the tail much fainter; the first six quills destitute of markings.

Adult, 26, 50.

During winter from New York to Nova Scotia. Not rare. Breeds on the islands and peninsulas of the Arctic Seas.

Larus leucopterus,Bonap.Syn. p. 361.Larus leucopterus, White-winged Silvery Gull,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 418.White-winged Silvery Gull,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 305.White-winged Silvery Gull, Larus leucopterus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 553.

Larus leucopterus,Bonap.Syn. p. 361.

Larus leucopterus, White-winged Silvery Gull,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 418.

White-winged Silvery Gull,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 305.

White-winged Silvery Gull, Larus leucopterus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 553.

450. 10. Larus occidentalis,Aud.Western Gull.

Not figured.

Bill robust, compressed, yellow, with an orange-red patch toward the end of the lower mandible; iris light hazel; feet flesh-coloured; head, neck, lower parts, rump, and tail pure white; back and wings light greyish-blue, of a deeper tint than in L. argentatus; edges of the wings and extremities of the quills white; first seven quills greyish-black toward the end, that colour including the outer webs and the greater part of the inner of the two first, and on the rest gradually diminishing, so as on the seventh merely to form a subterminal bar; the first quill with a patch of white on both webs near the end; the tips of all white. Young male in winter with the bill black, feet flesh-coloured; upper part and sides of the head, hind part and sides of the neck, light brownish-grey, faintly mottled and streaked with white; upper parts in general greyish-brown, confusedly mottled with whitish; rump white barred with brown; primary quills greyish-black, without white at the end; secondary quills similar, more grey toward the base, margined and tipped with white, undulated with brown; tail greyish-black, tipped with whitish; lower parts greyish-white, mottled with greyish-brown. This species, which is very intimately allied toLarus argentatus, is remarkable for the great depth and comparative shortness of its bill.

Male, 27, wing 171/4, but the feathers not complete.

Western Gull, Larus occidentalis,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 320.

451. 11. Larus argentatus,Brunnich. Herring or Silvery Gull.

Plate CCXCI.Adult and Young.

Bill robust, compressed, gamboge-yellow, with an orange-red patch toward the end of the lower mandible; iris silvery-white; feet flesh-coloured; head, neck, lower parts, rump, and tail pure white; back and wings light greyish-blue; edges of wing and extremities of quills white; the first six quills brownish-black towards the end, that colour including the outer webs and the greater part of the inner of the first two, and on the rest gradually diminishing, so as on the sixthmerely to form a bar; the first quill with a patch of white about an inch and a half long on both webs near the end, the second with a circular patch on the inner web; the tips of all white. The terminal markings of the outer quills vary. Young with the bill brownish-black, paler at the base of the lower mandible, feet purplish flesh-colour; general colour of plumage light purplish-grey, the upper part of the head darker, the lower parts mottled with pale yellowish-grey; feathers of upper parts and upper tail-coverts irregularly edged and barred with greyish-white; primary quills greyish-black, terminally margined with whitish; tail of the same colour, its base and the outer webs of the lateral feathers irregularly mottled with whitish, the tips brownish-white.

Male, 23, 53.Young, in winter, 183/4, 51.

Abundant in autumn, winter, and early spring, from Texas along the whole Atlantic coast to Newfoundland. Breeds from the Bay of Fundy to Melville Island. Common in autumn on the Great Lakes, the Ohio, and Mississippi.

Larus argentatus,Bonap.Syn. p. 360.Herring Gull, Larus argentatus,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 304.Herring Gull, Larus argentatus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 588; v. v. p. 638.

Larus argentatus,Bonap.Syn. p. 360.

Herring Gull, Larus argentatus,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 304.

Herring Gull, Larus argentatus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 588; v. v. p. 638.

452. 12. Larus glaucus,Brunn.Glaucous Gull.—Burgomaster.

Plate CCCXCVI.Adult and Young.

Bill stout, compressed, gamboge yellow, with a carmine patch toward the end of the lower mandible; iris yellow; feet flesh-coloured; second quill slightly longer than the first; tail slightly rounded; head, neck, lower parts, rump, and tail pure white; back and wings light greyish-blue; the edges of the wing and a large portion of all the quills toward the end, white. Young when fledged with the bill yellow, in its terminal third black; feet flesh-coloured; plumage very pale yellowish-brown, the feathers of the upper parts with a large dusky spot toward the end, the quills and tail-feathers barred with the same.

Adult, 30; wing, 191/2.

Met with in Labrador in summer. Baffin's Bay and Arctic Seas generally. Not observed within the limits of the United States.

Larus glaucus,Bonap.Syn. p. 361.Larus glaucus, Burgomaster Gull,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 416.Glaucous Gull or Burgomaster,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 306.Glaucous Gull or Burgomaster, Larus glaucus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 59.

Larus glaucus,Bonap.Syn. p. 361.

Larus glaucus, Burgomaster Gull,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 416.

Glaucous Gull or Burgomaster,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 306.

Glaucous Gull or Burgomaster, Larus glaucus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 59.

453. 13. Larus marinus,Linn.Great Black-backed Gull.

Plate CCXLI.Male.

Bill robust, compressed, gamboge yellow, with a patch of carminetoward the end of the lower mandible, feet flesh-coloured; head, neck, lower parts, rump and tail, pure white; back and wings deep blackish-purple or dark slate-colour; edges of wing and a large portion of the extremities of all the quills white; the second, third, fourth, and fifth primaries with a broad band of black across their ends. Young when fledged with the bill brownish-black, the iris dark brown, the feet as in the adult; the head and neck greyish-white, streaked with pale brownish-grey; upper parts mottled with brownish-black, brownish-grey, and dull white, the rump paler; primary quills blackish-brown, slightly tipped with brownish-white; tail-feathers white, with a large brownish-black patch towards the end, larger on the middle feathers, which are also barred towards the base with dusky; lower parts greyish-white, sides and lower tail-coverts obscurely mottled with greyish-brown.

Male, 291/2, 67.

Not uncommon during winter as far south as Florida, the young especially. Common from New York to Labrador, where it breeds. Lake Erie, Ontario, the St Lawrence, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers. Columbia River.

Larus marinus,Linn.Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 225.Black-backed Gull or Cobb,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 308.Great Black-billed Gull, Larus marinus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 305; v. v. p. 636.

Larus marinus,Linn.Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 225.

Black-backed Gull or Cobb,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 308.

Great Black-billed Gull, Larus marinus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 305; v. v. p. 636.

FAMILY XLIII. PROCELLARINÆ. FULMARS.

Bill generally shorter than the head, moderately stout, compressed; upper mandible with the ridge formed of two generally united plates, at the anterior part of which, usually about half the length of the bill, are the nostrils; the sides separated by a groove, the tip a decurved, compressed, pointed unguis; lower mandible with the angle very long and narrow, the tip more or less decurved. Head of moderate size, ovate; neck of moderate length; body compact. Feet of ordinary length, rather slender; tibia bare below for a short space; tarsus little compressed, anteriorly scutellate; toes four, the first extremely small and elevated, with a conical deflected claw; anterior toes webbed; the third and fourth nearly equal. Claws arched, compressed, acute. Plumage full, soft, rather compact above. Wings long, rather broad, pointed, the first quill generally longest. Tail short,of from twelve to sixteen feathers. Œsophagus very wide, often enormously dilated, especially at its lower part, stomach small, moderately muscular; intestine of moderate length; cœca rather long; cloaca oblong or globular. Trachea simple, with a single pair of inferior laryngeal muscles.

GENUS I. LESTRIS,Illiger. JAGER.

Bill shorter than the head, strong, slightly compressed, straight, with the tip curved; upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight, toward the tip decurved, the ridge broad and convex, formed by two plates, which overlap the nostrils, the sides narrow and convex, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip or unguis decurved, compressed, acute; nasal groove long, narrow; the nostrils in its fore part medial, lateral, longitudinal, broad before, extremely narrow behind, open and pervious; lower mandible with the angle long and narrow, a slight prominence at its extremity, beyond which the dorsal line is slightly concave, the sides erect, and slightly convex, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip obliquely truncate. Head rather large; neck of moderate length; body rather full. Feet of moderate length, rather stout; tibia bare at its lower part, and rough all round, with small convex scales; tarsus compressed behind and scabrous, anteriorly scutellate; hind toe extremely small and elevated; fore toes of moderate size, connected by convex webs, the third toe longest, the fourth little shorter. Claws strong, much curved, very acute, compressed. Plumage full, soft, blended, on the back rather compact. Wings very long, rather broad, pointed, the first quill longest. Tail of moderate length, or elongated, of twelve feathers, of which the middle are longest. Tongue broadly channelled above, contracted and induplicate toward the end, with the point slit; œsophagus very wide; stomach small, moderately muscular, with the epitheliumthin, dense, and longitudinally rugous; intestine rather short and wide; cœca rather long; cloaca oblong.

454. 1. Lestris pomarinus,Temm.Pomarine Jager.

Plate CCLIII.Adult Female.

Tail of moderate length, rounded, but with the two middle broad rounded feathers extending an inch beyond the next; bill dull green, toward the end dusky; tibia, toes, webs, and lower half of tarsus black, the upper half light blue; upper part and sides of head anteriorly brownish-black; upper part of neck all round yellowish-white; the rest of the neck white, barred with brownish-black, each feather having two transverse bands of that colour; breast white; sides, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts white, barred with brownish-black, as are the upper tail-coverts; back and wings brownish-black; primary quills of the same colour, white on the inner webs toward the base, as are the secondaries and tail-feathers; lower surface of wings mottled and barred with white and dusky.

Female, 201/4, 48.

From Massachusetts northward. Seen in Labrador. Breeds in high northern latitudes.

Lestris pomarina,Bonap.Syn. p. 364.Lestris pomarina, Pomarine Jager,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 429.Pomarine Jager,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 315.Pomarine Jager, Lestris pomarinus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 396; v. v. p. 643.

Lestris pomarina,Bonap.Syn. p. 364.

Lestris pomarina, Pomarine Jager,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 429.

Pomarine Jager,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 315.

Pomarine Jager, Lestris pomarinus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 396; v. v. p. 643.

455. 2. Lestris Richardsonii,Swains.Richardson's Jager.

Plate CCLXXII.Male and Young.

Male with the bill greyish-black, tinged with blue above; feet black; tail-feathers of moderate length, except the middle two, which extend about three inches beyond the rest, and taper to a point; plumage sooty-brown; the upper part of the head, primary quills, and tail darker; cheeks and sides of neck dull yellow; fore part of neck and breast white. Female similar, but without white on the neck and breast, those parts being merely of a lighter brown. Young, when fledged, with the bill light blue, dusky at the end; tarsi and basal portion of the toes and webs light blue, the rest black; general colour of the plumage sooty-brown, lighter on the neck and lower parts, feathers of the back and wings all marginally tipped with whitish; breast, sides, lower wing-coverts, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts, undulatingly barred with pale greyish-yellow.

Male, 181/2, 40.Young, in September, 151/2; wing, 111/2.

Coast of Massachusetts and Maine, during winter. Breeds in the northern barren grounds, away from the coast.

Lestris Richardsonii, Richardson's Jager,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 433.Richardson's Jager,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 319.Richardson's Jager, Lestris Richardsonii,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 503.

Lestris Richardsonii, Richardson's Jager,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 433.

Richardson's Jager,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 319.

Richardson's Jager, Lestris Richardsonii,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 503.

456. 3. Lestris parasiticus,Linn.Arctic Jager.

Plate CCLXVII.

Bill greyish-black, tinged with blue above; feet black, but with the greater part of the tarsus yellow; tail-feathers of moderate length, except the two middle, which are extremely elongated and attenuated, extending eight inches or more beyond the next, the rest broad and rounded; neck and lower parts white, the former tinged with yellow; upper and fore part of head, with the space before the cheeks, blackish-brown; lower part of hind neck, and all the upper parts, blackish-grey; primary quills and tail-feathers brownish-black, the shafts of the former white. Female similar to the male, but with the middle tail-feathers about three inches shorter.

Male, 23, 45.

Ranges, during winter, along and off the coast, though always in sight of land, as far as the Gulf of Mexico. Breeds in high latitudes.

Lestris Buffonii,Bonap.Syn. p. 364.Lestris parasitica, Arctic Jager,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 430.Arctic Jager,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 317.Arctic Jager, Lestris parasiticus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 470.

Lestris Buffonii,Bonap.Syn. p. 364.

Lestris parasitica, Arctic Jager,Swains. & Rich.F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 430.

Arctic Jager,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 317.

Arctic Jager, Lestris parasiticus,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 470.

GENUS II. DIOMEDEA,Linn.ALBATROSS.

Bill rather longer than the head, nearly straight, stout, much compressed; upper mandible, with its dorsal line, much declinate, and nearly straight for a third of its length, then concave ascending to the unguis, on which it is arched and decurved in the third of a circle, the ridge broad, convex, rounded at the base, separated in its whole length by a groove, margined below, beyond the nostrils by a prominent line, from the sides, which are erect and slightly convex, the edges sharp, the unguis decurved, much compressed, with its sides flattened, and the tip acute; nostrils subbasal, prominent, tabular, having a horny sheath; lower mandible with the angle very narrow, reaching to the tip, and having at its extremity a long slender interposed horny process; the outline of the crura gently ascending, and quite straight,until near the end, when it is a little decurved, the sides ascending, nearly erect, a little convex, the edges sharp, the tip extremely compressed, its upper edges decurved. Head rather large, ovate; neck of moderate length; body full. Feet rather short, stoutish; tibia bare, below scaly; tarsus roundish, reticulated; toes three, long, slender, outer very little shorter than middle, scaly for half their length, then scutellate. Claws rather small, slender, slightly arched, somewhat obtuse. Plumage full, soft, blended, but rather fine, somewhat compact above. Wings very long, and very narrow, the humerus and cubitus extremely elongated; first quill longest. Tail of twelve broadly rounded feathers, short, rounded.

457. 1. Diomedea chlororhynchos,Gmel.Yellow-nosed Albatross.

Not figured.

Bill much compressed, its ridge convex in its whole length, but with its basal outline, although semicircular, only half an inch in extent, so that between its margins and those of the sides of the bill, there is behind the nostrils a space nearly a quarter of an inch in breadth; the ridge in its whole length, the tip of the upper mandible, and the crura of the lower along their inferior edge, yellow, the rest black; feet yellow; head and neck ash-grey; the fore part of the back shaded into blackish-grey; wings entirely brownish-black, shafts of primaries white, toward the end brownish-black; hind part of back, rump, and upper tail-coverts white; tail deep grey, the bases and shafts of the feathers white, loral space of a darker grey than the rest of the head, that colour deepening at the fore part of the eye, forming a spot which includes the whole of the upper eyelid, and the anterior half the lower, of which the other half is white; lower half of the neck anteriorly, breast, sides, abdomen, lower tail-coverts, some of the axillaries, and the larger wing-coverts white; the others being brownish-black.

Length, 37; wing, 21; bill, 51/4; tail, 81/4.

Pacific Ocean, not far from Columbia River.

Diomedea chlororhynchos,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 326.

458. 3. Diomedea nigripes,Aud.Black-footed Albatross.

Not figured.

Bill brownish-black, moderately compressed, its ridge very broad and convex at the base, its basal outline semicircular and two inches inextent, so that its sides behind overlap and obliterate the sutural space behind the nostrils; feet black; fore part of head, cheeks and throat light dusky-grey, the capistral feathers nearly white, as is a small patch at the posterior angle of the eye; upper part of head, hind neck, and all the upper parts, including the wings and tail, sooty-brown tinged with grey, as are the lower surface of the wings and the axillaries; lower parts dull grey, deeper on the fore parts and sides of the neck.

Length, 36; wings, 21; bill, 5; tail, 3.

Pacific Ocean, off California.

Black-footed Albatross, Diomedea nigripes,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 327.

459. 2. Diomedea fusca,Aud.Dusky Albatross.

Plate CCCCVII.Adult.

Bill black, much compressed, its ridge carinate, with its basal outline running up on the forehead into a very acute angle, lower mandible with a groove on each side in its whole length, as far as the unguis; feet yellow; head and upper part of the neck greyish-black, tinged with brown, the rest of the neck, all the lower parts, the back and rump light brownish-grey, scapulars darker, wings brownish-black, primary quills and tail-feathers greyish-black with white shafts; eyelids narrowly margined with white feathers, their anterior part excepted.

Adult, length, 34; wing, 21; tail, 11; bill, 410/12.

Off the Columbia River.

Dusky Albatross, Diomedea fusca,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 116.

GENUS III. PROCELLARIA,Linn.FULMAR.

Bill of about the length of the head, or somewhat shorter, robust, straight, moderately compressed, with the tip decurved; upper mandible with the nostrils dorsal, separated by a thin septum, covered by an elevated horny case, and opening directly forwards, the ridge nearly straight or concave in its outline, laterally sloping or convex, separated by a groove from the sides, which are erect and convex, the edges sharp, inflected, and in their outline slightly recurved from the base to the unguis, which is strong, decurved, and acute; lower mandible with the angle long, narrow, acute, the sides erect, with a groove in their whole length, the edges sharp and direct, the very short dorsal line ascending and slightly concave, the edges decurved at the end. Headrather large, ovate; neck rather short; body full. Feet of moderate length, stout; tibia bare for a short space below; tarsus a little compressed, reticulated with angular scales; hind toe a slight prominence with a conical claw; fore toes long, slender, scutellate, connected by striated even webs; fourth toe slightly shorter than third. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, rather acute. Plumage full, close, elastic, rather compact above. Wings very long, narrow, the first quill longest. Tail short, or of moderate length, of from twelve to sixteen feathers.

* Bill robust; tail of more than twelve feathers.

460. 1. Procellaria gigantea,Linn.Gigantic Fulmar.

Not figured.

Bill longer than the head, nasal plate carinate, very slightly concave above, yellow, as are the feet; tail of sixteen feathers; general colour of plumage a deep brown tinged with grey, lighter on the lower parts, and especially on the lower surface of the wings.

Length, 36; tail, 71/2; bill, 4.

Off the Columbia River.

Gigantic Fulmar, Procellaria gigantea,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 330.

461. 2. Procellaria glacialis,Linn.Common Fulmar.

Plate CCLXIV.Male.

Bill shorter than the head, moderately compressed, with the nasal plate flattened concave above; tail slightly rounded, of fourteen feathers; bill, feet, and claws yellow; head, neck, and lower parts, pure white; back and wings light greyish-blue, the rump paler, the tail bluish-white; primary quills and coverts blackish-brown. Young in first plumage greyish-brown.

Male, 8, 18.

Not uncommon off the coast, from New York to Nova Scotia. Abundant on the banks of Newfoundland. Breeds in high latitudes.

Procellaria glacialis,Bonap.Syn. p. 369.Fulmar Petrel,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 330.Fulmar Petrel, Procellaria glacialis,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 446.

Procellaria glacialis,Bonap.Syn. p. 369.

Fulmar Petrel,Nutt.Man. v. ii. p. 330.

Fulmar Petrel, Procellaria glacialis,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 446.

462. 3. Procellaria pacifica,Aud.Pacific Fulmar.

Not figured.

Bill shorter than the head, considerably compressed, with the nasal plate carinate and almost straight; tail rounded, of fourteen feathers;bill and feet yellow; head, neck, and lower parts pure white; back and wings light greyish-blue, but most of the feathers, including those of the tail, becoming dark grey toward the end; primary quills and their coverts blackish-brown tinged with grey. Differs from P. glacialis chiefly in the form of the bill.

Adult, 18; wing, 123/4; tail, 43/4; bill, 13/4.

North west coast of America. Abundant.

Pacific Fulmar, Procellaria pacifica,Aud.Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 331.

463. 4. Procellaria tenuirostris,Aud.Slender-billed Fulmar.

Not figured.

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