THE OREGON NATURALIST. 
as regards color, marking or size. The measur- 
ments of four females and half a dozen males 
gave about the same figures each time. Av- 
erage: Length 14.50, Extent 31.37, Wing 
10.75, Bill 1.40, Tarsus 1,50. Middle toe 
and claw 1.40. 
The range of this bird is very large; migrating 
throughout nearly the whole of the United 
States. Some years ago Mr, H. G. White; 
who was at that time stopping at this place, 
(Woods Holl) observed late in the fall, one of 
these birds flying about the harbor with a tin 
can attached to one ofits legs. After several 
149 
ineffectuai attempts, he finally succeeded in se- 
curing it, and upon breaking open the can, 
which had become so rusty as to prevent its no 
tural opening: he found a slip 0° cardboard w: 
the following, in ink, ‘‘Airstone Island May 
1887”. 
on the map that I can think of but have never 
I have searched all the likely localities 
succeeded in locating it. If any of the nume 
ous readers of the Oregon Naturalist can infor 
me where it is, he will confer a fayor and esta)- 
lish an interesting fact. The can had been at- 
tached while the bird was quite young for the 
ring around the leg was nearly embedded in the 
flesh which had grown out upon both sides. 
The breeding range for phzladelphia is from 
the Southern boundry of the British Provinces, 
northward. The nest is said to be placed up- 
on the ground and to contain ‘‘one or two green. 
ish grey eggs with an interrupted wreath of light 
brown”. However very little is known about 
the breeding habits, and I do not doubt that 
many of the eggs which are sent out for phz/a- 
delphia are spurious. I have never yet seen a 
specimen whsch was positively identified, al- 
though I have seen many which were said to be 
Bonaparte’s. These measure on an average 2.00 
x 1.45. Pretty large for the original. 
(70) Sterna hirundo (686) 
COMMON TERN: 
This active and alert representative of the 
subfamily Sterninze is not a ‘‘winter bird” with 
us, but as it breeds abundantly here I thought 
best to give it mention. The islands of Pen- 
ekese and Wepeckets are their especial grounds. 
They inhabit these islands in company with the 
Artic and the Roseate varieties,in such numbers 
that during the breeding season, their cries are 
all but deafening to the would be despoiler of 
their joys. When heard alone the cry is a 
plaintive —*‘chee -chein’”’ operated at regular 
intervals and only when in flight. The breed- 
ing plumage -which together with the slight 
change in the fall is all that we observe them 
in, is as follows, Whole upper parts, pearl 
blue extending from the back onto the wings, 
Lower parts pure white. Top of head and oc- 
ciput, glossy black, extending below the eyes 
but leaving the lower lids white. The bill is 
of a bright vermillion, as are the feet, although 
these are of a slightly lighter shade. The size 
The 
largest measurements which I have ever recorded 
are, Length 15.00 inches: Extent 32.00 inch- 
es, Wing 11.00 inches. The tail which is deep- 
ly forked 4.25, Bill 1.50. The smallest meas- 
urements which I have recorded are, Length 13 
00: Extent 29.50: Wing 10.00: Tail 4.50: 
Tarsus .67: Bill 1.00. 
This bird remains with us through the sum- 
of the birds is by no means constant, 
