136 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



Sabine's Gull (Xcnia sabiiiii). A circumpolar species breeding in the 

 Far North and rarely coming as far south as northern United States. Giraud 

 records a specimen shot at Raynor South, Long Island, "July, 1,837." 



Gull-billed Tern (Gclocliclidoii nilotica). A southern species breeding 

 as far north as Virginia, and wandering occasionally to Maine. There are 

 several Long Island records, the most recent being two specimens taken at 

 South Oyster Bay, July 4, 1882 (Butcher, Auk, I, 1884, p. 34), and one shot 

 from a flock of five on Shinnecock Bav. July 8, 1884 (Butcher, Auk, II, 1885, 

 p. 38). 



Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia) . A rather uncommon fall migrant. 

 There appears to be but one spring record, that of two adult males taken at 

 Amityville, L. I., May 12, 1898 { Braislin, Auk, XVI, 1899, p. 191). 



Royal Tern (Sterna maxima). There is but one instance of its occur- 

 rence on Long Island, a specimen taken at Raynor South, August zy, 1.831, by 

 J. F. Ward (Am. Mus. No. 46,008, Lawrence Coll.). 



Forster's Tern (Sterna Forsteri). More common in the interior than 

 on the Atlantic coast, where it is not known to breed north of Virginia. It 

 wanders irregularly northward and is sometimes found in this vicinity. 



Common Tern; Sea Swallow (Sterna hirundo) . Inhabits the greater 

 part of the Northern Hemisphere : in North America breeds locally from the 

 Arctic regions to the Gulf of Mexico. This was formerly an abundant bird 

 along our coasts, but the relentless persecutions of millinery collectors have so 

 reduced its numbers that it is now found in only a few isolated localities. Not 

 niany years ago it bred more or less commonly all along the Long Island 

 coast, but until recently almost the only surviving large colony inhabited Big 

 Gull Island. Even in this remote locality it was constantly persecuted by 

 nest-robbing fishermen and egg collectors. Through the efforts of a number 

 of bird-lovers, who raised a sum of money for the purpose, permission was 

 obtained from the Lighthouse Board to have the lightkeeper on Little Gull 

 Island appointed a special game-keeper to protect the Terns on Big Gull 

 Island. The birds rapidly increased under this guardianship, but the subse- 

 quent use, by the United States Government, of Gull Island for the erection of 

 fortifications has caused the Terns to abandon it.' Colonies are now found at both 

 the northern and southern ends of Gardiner's Island. 



Roseate Tern [Sterna ciougalli). "Temperate and tropical regions." 

 In north America formerly breeding along the Atlantic coast northward 

 irregularly to Maine ; now rare north of southern New Jersey. A few pairs 

 lived on Big Gull Island with the colony of Common Terns above mentioned, 

 but I have not observed the species in either of the Gardiner's Island colonies. 



The Arctic Tern (Sterna paradiscra) is included by Lawrence without 

 r' mark. I know of no record of its occurrence near New York City, and Mr. 

 Butcher has but one specimen from Long Island, a male taken on Ram 

 Island Shoals, July i, 1884. 



