SUPPLEMENT TO BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY 41 



25 [64] Sterna caspia Pallas. 

 Caspian Tern. 



Not uncommon transient visitor in the autumn. August 8 to October 2. 



This splendid bird — la grande estorlette of the Acadians of southern Lab- 

 rador — continues to fly along the coast in its southern migration. I have as yet 

 no spring records. It is rare that they alight here but on August 9, 1907, I saw 

 two on the beach at Ipswich. They looked as large as the Herring Gulls, and 

 twice the size of the Common Terns on the beach at the same time. Their legs 

 were noticeably long, elevating them above the sand, while Common Terns appear 

 to have no legs at all when on the beach. They carried their tails straight out or 

 slightly cocked up. 



On August 31, 1917, the largest number of Caspian Terns I had ever seen on 

 the shore of the County flew by me at Ipswich.^ There were twelve of them in a 

 loose flock and they emitted their harsh cries as they flew by. It was indeed a 

 noble sight. 



26 [65] Sterna maxima Bodd. 



Royal Tern. 



Accidental from the South. 



The record by Mr. Zerrahn still remains unique. 



27 [69] Sterna forsteri Nutt. 



Forster's Tern. 

 Very rare transient visitor. 



It is possible that this bird may be overlooked in the crowds of terns of other 

 species that at times throng the beaches. It can be distinguished from the Com- 

 mon Tern by its notes which Chapman describes as a " long-drawn, reedy cackle 

 and a tweet-tweet-tweet-tweet." Mr. A. C. Bent has described them to me as 

 "a rasping, nasal buzzing sound, like srreep suggestive of a Nighthawk. More 

 rarely it says wheat wheat somewhat like a Common Tern." 



1 Townsend, C. W. Auk, vol. 35, p. 182, 1918. 



