Birds op Wakulla County_, Florida 111 



6. Lams atricilla — Laughing Gull. 



A nesting colony of about fifteen pairs has continued on our 

 coast for several years. An extra high tide will sometimes de- 

 stroy the eggs, but the birds usually rear some young. More nu- 

 merous from the last of October until about April 1. June 6, 1915, 

 nests with eggs and one or two young just hatched. 



7. Larus pliiladelpliia — Bonaparte's Gull. 



Of regular winter occurrence, arriving the last of September 

 and remaining probably until early May. September 30, 1917, 

 February 26, 1917, May 3, 1919. 



8. Sterna maxima — Royal Tern. 



Probably occurs regularly in small numbers at the mouth of 

 St. Marks river and the bars off Shell Point. One identified May 

 3, 1919. Not known to nest here. 



9. Sterna forsten — Forster's Tern. 



Found usually along shore during the winter. Specimens 

 taken April 11, 1915. 



10. Sterna liirundo — Common Tern. 



Occur regularly in winter and at times rather numerous. T 

 have no nesting records. 



11. Sterna antillariim — Least Tern. 



Formerly this was a regular breeder at one or two places on 

 our coast. It has not been noted the past eight or ten years. 



12. Sterna fuseata — Sooty Tern. 



Occur occasionally if not regularly in the spring. Possibly in 

 the fall. April 10, 1917, May 22, 1913. 



13. Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis — Black Tern. 



Occurs regularly but in varying abundance from mid-summer 

 until fall. Single and scattering birds come up the river feeding 

 as far as our village. In broader waters they frequently feed in 

 flocks of twenty or more, hovering over bunches of small fish close 

 along shore and dropping down after their prey. I have no spring 

 records. July 4, 1915, October 5, 1917. Local name, " Mother 

 Carey's Chicken." 



14. RJiynchops nigra — Black Skimmer. 



Formerly said to have nested along our shore. Apparently 

 occurring rather rarely for several years, until the fall of 1917, 

 when they were numerous. Local name, " Scissor-bill." June 8, 

 1917, September 29, 1917, April 22, 1919. 

 16. Phaethon flmrr/cfln its— Yellow-billed Tropic-bird. 



"... Accidental at St. Marks, Fla." The A. 0. U. Check List 

 of N. Am. Birds, 1910, p. 58. Normally a strictly tropical species. 

 16. Phccthon americanus — Yellow-billed Tropic Bird. 



One of our reliable fishermen states that on May 25, 1919, he 

 saw a bird flying about the bars near our light house different 



