24 bulletin: museum of COMPAEAnVE ZOOLOGY. 



Sterna maxima Bodd. 



EoTAL Tern. 



Thalasseus regius Belding, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., V. 1883, 545 (Cape Region), 549 



(San Jose). 

 Sterna maxima Bryant, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 2d ser., II. 1889, 251 (Cape Region). 



Mr. Frazar found the Royal Tern in January at La Paz, where it was rare, 

 but somewhat more numerously represented than the Caspian. He did not 

 meet with it on his trip to Carmen Island, but saw a few at San Jose del Cabo 

 in September and October. At the latter place it was " common " on May 17, 

 1882, according to Mr. Belding. It is not mentioned either by Dr. Streets or 

 Mr. Townsend, and apparently was not observed by Mr. Xantus. Mr. Bryant 

 records it from the northwest coast in winter on the authority of Mr. Anthony, 

 and from Cerros Island in April and May on that of Mr. Belding. It is a 

 common bird on the coast of California, and is said to breed on the island of 

 San Miguel. It ranges southward on the Pacific coast to Peru. 



The collection contains two specimens — an adult female in nearly full nup- 

 tial plumage, shot at La Paz, on January 25, and a young or at least immature 

 bird taken at San Jose del Cabo, on September 5. 



Sterna elegans Gamb. 

 Elegant Tern. 

 Sterna elegans Townsend, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XIII. 1890, 137 (La Paz.). 



The only record that I can find of the occurrence of the Elegant Tern in the 

 Cape Region is that by Mr. Townsend of a specimen shot at La Paz on March 

 14, 1889, but Mr. Bryant found numbers " around Magdalena Bay in 1888," and 

 ♦• obtained five adult plumaged birds " i at the same place the following season. 

 The species occasionally wanders still further northward, for Dr. Cooper has 

 reported its capture in San Francisco Bay.^ There can be little doubt that it 

 regularly frequents both coasts of the Gulf of California, and it probably 

 breeds there, also, for there is an egg in the National Museum from Guaymas. 



The Elegant Tern is believed to be confined to the Pacific coast of America, 

 and is known to range as far south as Chili. 



o^ 



1 Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 2d sen, II. 1889, 252. 



2 Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., IV. 1868, 10. 



