302 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



Fnmily LARID.^. Genus Sterna. 



Sub-family STERNIN.^. 



CASPIAN TERN. 



Sterna caspia, Fallas. 



(British : Rare abnormal spring and autumn migrant.) 



Single Brooded. Laying season, May and June. 



Breeding area : Temperate and tropical zones. 

 The Caspian Tern (with the exception of South America, 

 and where it may possibly yet be found to breed, if it 

 is not entirely replaced by the nearly allied Sterna 

 maxima) breeds on the coasts, and by some inland waters 

 in various districts, right round the world. Amongst 

 its breeding places maybe mentioned the island of Sylt, 

 off the west coast of Schleswig, various low coasts and 

 isles in the basin of the Baltic, possibly on the south 

 coast of Holland, on the eastern coasts of Spain, on 

 various islets near Sardinia, and elsewhere in the basin 

 of the Mediterranean, on the lagoons of the Danube, 

 and elsewhere on the shores of the Black and Caspian 

 Seas. It also breeds in the deltas of the Nile and the 

 Zambesi, on various islands in the Persian Gulf, and by 

 the salt lakes of Turkestan. It is known to breed in 

 Ceylon, in Australia, and New Zealand. In the New 

 World it ranges about as far north as in Western Europe,' 

 namely, to Labrador and Alaska, and southwards to 

 California and Mexico. 



Breeding habits : The Caspian Tern returns to 

 its accustomed breeding places early or late in May 

 according to locality. This Tern breeds in societies, 

 but many of its European colonies are sadly reduced 

 in numbers owing to incessant plundering of the nests. 

 The favourite breeding grounds are on the shores of 



