I'OHster's tehn. 53 



usual limit, l>ut \\r nii_y;ht with us much truth say that it is ditticult 

 to account for hirds so regularly keeping within certain liniits. When 

 those of this class tiiid themselves farther from iiome than they 

 iintended, it does not cost them much labor to correct the mistake. 



This is thf oiil\- it'cord 1 have of the species in Ontario, and the 

 visit can ojdv be considered acciilcntal, as the summer liome of the 

 species is far to the south. 



Thev breed in colonies on tlic coast of Central America and on 

 the larger West India Tshuids. 



SuBtJExus STERNA. 

 STERNA FORSTERI Nitt. 



2'). Forster's Tern. (69) 



Like tlie ('oimni)ii Tern ; larger, tail longer than wing.s. ^^ ing of adult, 

 9^-lOA; tail, 6i-8, thus often beyond the extreme of liiriiiido, and nearly as in 

 paradmea ; bill, 1^ (li-lf), and about 2-5 deep at Imse (in hirnndo rarely if 

 ever so deep); tarsus seldom down to J- ; whole foot, al)out 2. Little or no 

 plumbeous wash below ; inner web of the outer tail feathers darker than outer 

 web of the same. Young and winter l>irds may be distinguished from hirundo 

 at gunshot range ; the black caj) is almost entirely wanting, and in its place is 

 a broa<l black Viand on eacli side of the head through the eye: several lateral 

 tail feathers are largely dusky on the //;««;• web; their outer webs are white. 



Hab. — North America generally, breeding from Manitoba southward, in the 

 United States to Virginia, Illinfiis, Texas and California : in wintei-, southward 

 to Brazil. 



Eggs, two or three, from greenish-white to drab, blotched and s])otted with 

 browii and lilac of different shades. 



This is another of the sea swallows, a name which is indiscrim- 

 inately applied to all the terns. The species is abundant and widely 

 distributefl. It is one of those found by Di-. ^facallum breeding on 

 Mohawk Island, in Lake Erie. Mr. Saunders reports it breeding on 

 the St. Clair Flats, and Macoun speaks of it breeding abundantly 

 in Lake Manitoba, Waterhen River and Lake Winnipegosis. Farthei- 

 south, it is known to breed in Virginia, Texas, Illinois and California. 



Throughout Ontario generally, it is only a migrant in spring and 

 fall. It is usually in company with the Common Tern, which it closely 

 resembles, the points of difference being leadily observed when the 

 birds are placed side V)y side. 



