THE TERNS. 529 



the sportsman. When flying, and also when gleaning their 

 food, they have a fine whistling twitter, which appeals 

 readily to the ear of the trained hunter. 



About 9.50 long and nearly 15.00 in extent, this species has 

 the head, neck and breast dusky-gray, the feathers of the 

 latter tipped with white; wings and tail, dusky; the second- 

 aries, tertiaries, and coverts of the former, edged with 

 white; belly, vent, and wing-linings, white; back, dark, 

 glossy-purple, edged with gray; eyes, dark. In this com- 

 plete plumage, the bird is simply elegant. In winter, "the 

 lower parts are pale gray, while the upper have the purple 

 tints much fainter, the white edging substituted by dull 

 gray." (Audubon.) 



The Purple Sandpiper, chiefly a bird of the coast, but 

 sometimes touching the Great Lakes in its winter tours, 

 and reaching the coast of the Middle States, breeds to the 

 far north. The ^^'g "is of the usual pyriform shape, and 

 measures about 1.40 by 1.00. The ground is clay-color, 

 shaded with olivaceous; the markings are large, numerous 

 and distinct, of rich umber-brown of different depths and 

 intensity, occurring all over the shell, but being most nu- 

 merous as well as largest on the major half. With these 

 spots are associated shell-markings of pale purplish-gray 

 and light neutral tint." (Coues.) 



THE TERNS. 



Outside of Mahone Bay, on the south shore of Nova 

 Scotia, are several islands of interest in respect to orni- 

 thology. Flat Island, near Tancook, is a grand resort for 

 several species of Terns. It comprises about a hundred 

 acres, is clear of trees, and, as its name implies, is compara- 

 tively level. Ledges of slate crop out here and there, how- 

 ever, forming low ridges, with marshy patches intervening. 

 34 



