TERNS 



55 



It seems clear that the (luU-billcd Tern is de- 

 creasing rapidly in numbers. Once common — 

 or at least not actually rare — along the Atlantic 

 coast, it now, according to Dr. Chajmian, seldom, 

 if ever, breeds north of Cobb's Island, Ya.., where 

 it was found nesting in great number - by Dr. 

 Ridgwav and Dr. Henshaw in 1871). Here Dr. 

 Ridgway noted especially its cry, which he de- 

 scribed as a chattering laugh, wherefore he 

 thought it might well be named the Laughing 

 Tern — its scientific name literally means 

 " laughing swallow of the Nile." The same 



observer noted that the bird showed much more 

 courage in defending its ne.^t than do other 

 Terns ; it swooped downward and straight at the 

 intruder, often nearly striking him with its bill, 

 and in its attempt to change its course the rush 

 iif the air through its wings made a booming 

 round not unlike that produced by the Night- 

 hawk when it checks its downward ])lunge. 



This bird differs superficially from its kind in 

 having a shorter and comparatively heavy bill, 

 and a shorter and less distinctly forked tail. It 

 is also less excitable than the Common Tern. 



CASPIAN TERN 

 Sterna caspia Pallas 



A. O. U. Xunil.cr 1.4 



Other Names. — Imperial Tern ; Caspian Sea Tern. 



General Description. — Length, 20 to J.^ inches. 

 Color, white with grayish-blue mantle. Tail, sliiihtly 

 forked with outer feathers pointed : wings, long and 

 slender. 



Color. — Adults in Summer: Crown, glossy green- 

 ish-black ; a wdiite spot on lower eyelid : mantle, grayish- 

 bhie, but so heavily silvered when new as to appear 

 light gray; rest of plumage, pure white; bill, hritiht ver- 

 milion: feet, black; iris, brown. Adults in Winter; 

 The crown is broken by white and some dusky feathers 

 show on wiu'T-coverts. 



See Ci.l..r TLite 8 



Nest and Eggs. — N'est: A mere liollow scooped in 

 dry sand. Egcs : 2 or 3, pale olive-buff, rather evenly 

 marked with spots of dark brown and lavender. 



Distribution. — Nearly cosmopolitan ; breeds in \orth 

 -\merica at Great Slave Lake, Klamath Lake, Oregon, 

 on islands of northern Lake Michigan, on coast of 

 soutliern Labrador, and on coasts of Texas, Louisiana. 

 Mississippi, South Carolina and (formerly) Virginia; 

 winters from coast of central California to Lower Cali- 

 fornia and western Mexico, and on the South Atlantic 

 and Gulf coasts; casual in migration north to Alaska, 

 Tames Bav, and Newfoundland. 



Photo by \V. L. Fmlty and li. T. Uolilman 



COLONY OF CASPIAN TERNS 



