GULLS AND TERNS 29 



Mr. Loomis has found the royal tern decidedly common at times 

 during the winter at Monterey, and Mr. Grinnell reports it as very 

 numerous around Catalina Island in winter, and more or less com- 

 mon along the coast throughout the year. 



66. Sterna elegans Gamb. Elegant Tern. 



Like S. maxima, but smaller, with longer crest, and under parts deeply 

 tinged with rose pink. Length : 16-17, wing 12.40-12.50, bill 2.25-2.55, 

 tail 6.60-7.30, forked for about 2.60-3.50. 



Distribution. — Pacific coast of middle America, and north to San 

 Francisco. 



Mr. Loomis has fouud the elegant terns at Monterey in autumn, 

 but in smaller numbers than the royal tern. 



Subgenus Sterna. 



69. Sterna forsteri Nutt. Forster Tern. 



Outer tail feathers very narrow and long. Adults in summer: under 

 parts white ; upper parts light pearl gray, top of head black ; outer web of 

 outer tail feather white ; feet orange red, bill dull orange, dusky at tip. 

 Adults in icinter : top of head Avhite, back of head tinged with gray, a 

 dusky stripe around eye and across ear coverts ; bill and feet duller 

 colored. Young: upper parts, crown, and sides of head washed with brown- 

 ish ; tail feathers dusky toward ends. Length : 14-15, wing 9.50-10.30, 

 bill 1.50-1.65, tail 5.00-7.70, forked for 2.30-5.00. 



Distribution. — Breeds in the United States north to Manitoba, south in 

 winter to Brazil. 



Nest. — A hollow in the sand lined with grasses, or a rude nest in marsh 

 grass or on raft of floating tule stems. Eggs : 1 to 3, bluish green to 

 olive buff, marked with lilac and brown. 



Low over the lakes, sloughs, and big tule marshes, you see these 

 graceful terns beating the air with long, soft strokes of their narrow 

 wings, while the sharp bill points downward, and the eyes are 

 intent on the surface of the water. If a minnow shows so much as 

 a fin, there is a quick dive, a splash, and a gulp — the minnow has 

 disappeared and the tern is beating over the water again, now skim- 

 ming close to the surface, now lighting daintily on it to pick up 

 some choice morsel. Sometimes a large number of terns arc at- 

 tracted by a school of minnows, and an animated diving and splash- 

 ing ensues. Enter the terns' l)reeding grounds, or wound one of their 

 number, and the airy creatures, all soft silent grace before, storm 

 about you with threatening swoops and harsh, piercing .screams. 



Vp:knon Bailky. 



70. Sterna hirundo Linn. Common Tkrn. 



Outer wcl) of outer tiiil feather dusky, inner web white. Adults in sutn- 

 mer : bill and feet l)riglit orange red, the bill tipped with blaok ; top of 

 head black ; mantle light pearl gray ; tail .'ind it.s coverts mainly white ; 

 throat white, brea.st light gray, .\dults in winter: crown mainly white ; 

 under parts pure white ; bill and foot duller. Young : marked with 



