LARIDaE — THE GULLS AND TERNS — STERNA. 297 



Occasional pairs of this species were observed in the Fur Region, even as far as 

 the Arctic coast. An example was taken by Mr. Kennicott, June 6, 1859, on Lake 

 Winnipeg ; another at Fort Eae, by Mr. L. Clarke ; one on the Arctic coast below 

 Anderson River, in June, 1863, by Mr. MacFarlane ; and three on Big Island, in Great 

 Slave Lake, by Mr. J. Reid. 



In Europe, according to Yarrell, it is found to be less common than it was once 

 supposed to be, when it was confounded with tAvo other distinct species, on account 

 of their general resemblance to each other when on the wing, and the fact that their 

 habits are almost identical. 



Mr. Wheelwright states that this species is the most common Tern on the coast 

 of Scandinavia, and that it breeds far inland, on Lake Wener, and even goes up 

 into Lapland. In the winter it visits Germany, Holland, France, Spain, Italy, and 

 the jNlediterranean. 



In England it breeds occasionally on rocks or on banks of shingle above the sea- 

 beach ; but generally seems to prefer building on the ground, in marshes, or on small, 

 low, and sandy islands. 



It is not common — if indeed it breeds at all — on the Pacific coast; but through- 

 out California — according to Dr. Heermann — it is very abundant along the rivers in 

 the interior during the summer, retiring southward in the winter. Dr. Cooper never 

 met with it on the sea-coast of California, and has never visited its summer resorts, 

 except during the cold weather ; nor did he see it on the Columbia River. 



This Tern breeds on the islands of Bermuda in the summer, but is not very abun- 

 dant there. Mr. Hurdis states that in August Gannet-liead Rock teems with it and 

 its young. It is known at Bermuda as the "Red-shank;" on the coast of Massa- 

 chusetts it is called the " Mackerel Gull ; " and on Long Island and the coast of New 

 Jersey it is the " Summer Gull." In common with the Arctic Tern, and one or two 

 others of the smaller kinds, it is known as a " Sea SAvallow " in England. 



Mr. Bernard Ross met Avith it on the Mackenzie River ; the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution has specimens received from Nelson's River ; and Mr. Murray obtained speci- 

 mens that were taken at Hudson's Bay. Mr. MacFarlane found it breeding on the 

 LoAver Anderson River, and it is also knoAvn to breed on the shores of Franklin Bay 

 and of the Arctic Ocean. 



Mr. Dresser obtained one specimen at San Antonio in May, 1864, and in June he 

 found numbers breeding in Gah^ston Bay, the eggs being either just hatched out, 

 or hatching. The nests Avere made in the high piles of drift stuff, and the eggs 

 were three, in some instances four, in number. Mr. Audubon also mentions finding 

 it breeding on Galvesbon Island ; and on his voyage to Labrador he met with this 

 same species nesting on the Magdalen Islands ; and afterAvard in the neighborhood of 

 American Harbor, on the coast of Labrador. 



According to Giraud, this Tern arrives on the coast of Long Island and in Ncav 

 Jersey in the latter part of the month of April, and begins to lay early in May, de- 

 positing three eggs. It continues on that coast in great numbers until the approach 

 of winter, Avhen they all appear to retire beyond the limits of the United States. Dr. 

 Bryant found it breeding as far south as Florida. 



On the Island of IMuskegat — a Ioav, irregular collection of shifting sandbars, less 

 than three miles in length, and hardly half a mile in its greatest breadth — lying 

 betAveen the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, this Tern formerly bred 

 in great numbers, in company Avith the Roseate and Arctic Terns and the Laughing 

 Gull, this species in 1842 being by far the most abundant. 



Spending a week, in August, 1873, on the Island of Penikese, one of the smallest 



VOL. ir. — 38 



