COMMON TERN 



319 



Metinic Green Island, there are large colonies. Its most 

 southern colony is on ^Vluskeget Island, Mass. It migrates 

 southward with the Common Tern, and returns at the same 

 time. At close range it may be distinguished from the 

 Common Tern by its bill, which is uniform deep red. Its 

 tail, too, is a trifle longer. Its notes, according to Mr. Brew- 

 ster, may be distinguished : " The usual cry corresponds to 

 the tearr of S. hirundo [the Common Tern], but is shriller, 

 ending in a rising inflection, and sounding very like the 

 squeal of a pig." 



Common Tern. Sterna hirundo 



15.00 



Ad. in summer. — Top of head black; back and wings pearl- 

 gray; tail white; under parts grayish-white; hill red, blackish at 

 tip. Ad. in autumn. — Similar, but forehead and forward part of 

 crown white, mixed with black on the crown; under parts pure 

 white ; bill less red. Im. — Similar to fall adult, but bill brownish. 



The Common Tern is a summer resident on the coast of 

 New York and New England, but south of the Maine coast 



Fig. 90. Common Tern 



it breeds in only a few colonies ; Gull Island, off" Long 

 Island, Muskeget Island, and Penikese, near Martha's Vine- 

 yard, are the largest of these. On the Maine coast there 

 are many colonies. The Tern arrives in May, and leaves in 



