^g •. FORSTEK'S TERN. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known from the closely allied for^leri. by the dark color of the outer webs nf outer tail feathers, and from ivdiilt ?nac- 

 raura by the bluck tip to bill and longer tiiisus. See other species for further comparison. Distrdiuted, in summer, form 

 Virginia to the far North. VVinters, south of the United States. 



DI.MEXSIONS. 

 Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, U'till; stretch, 3i)-30: wing, 10-40; tail, fiijft; bill, 

 1 4-2: tarsus, '80. Longest specimen. 1.5-61I; greatest e.Ktent of wing, 31-9'l; longest wing, 11-50; tail, 7 00; bill, 1-55; tarsus, 

 -!)0. Sliortest specimen, l."! 00, smallest extent of wing, 28-50; shortest wing, 9 35; tail, 552; bill, 1-30; tarsus, -75. 



DKSCKIPTION OF NESTS AND KCitiS. 

 Nesis, placed on tlie ground in sandy places, composed of grass, sea-weeds, etc. Eiiijs. from three to four in number, 

 oval in form, varying from white, through green, to deep brown in color, .spotted and blotched irregularly with brown, um- 

 ber, and lil:ic of varying shades. Dimensions fnmi 1-05x1-40 to l-25xl'82. 



IlAI'.lTS. 



The Common Terns are by f:ir the iiio.st, ubiindjint species on our coast, north of Vir- 

 ginia, and extend their range into the far North. I found them very abundant on the Mag- 

 dalen Ishinds, breeding, not only on the s;in(l-bars, hut also on the grassy tops of i.solated 

 rocks, two hundred feet high, with precipitous sides, and which had become detached from 

 the cliffs on the western shores of Grindstone Island, but which were only separated from 

 the shore by a chaim of a few yards in width. As the eggs of these Terns are much sought 

 after for food by fishemien and others, it is probable that they were driven to these nearly 

 inaccessible places by constant persecution. When nesting, these Terns are not remarka- 

 bly shy, and if the breeding ground is approached, all the birds will rise and fly to meet 

 the intruder, uttering their loud, shrill notes which sound like te-arr te-arr; then will hov- 

 er over the head of the invader, often but a short distance from him, or will make frantic 

 dives at him, passing within a few feet of his heail. If a shot be fired at them, every bird 

 will dash downward and, for a. moment, become silent, only, however, to resume their cries 

 with greater vehemence. They gather around a woun<led or dead companion, especially 

 if it chance to fall into the water, hovering directly over it, and displaying by their cries, 

 the most profound sympathy for its misfortunes. These Terns, when unmolest(ul, breed 

 about the middle of June, and the young make their appearance during the first week 

 in July, running as soon as hatched, but are cared for by the parents until able to fly well, 

 which occurs in August. The young are easily tamed, and I once possessed one that dis- 

 played considerable intelligence. It fed readily on small fish and grew to be a fine, large 

 bird, when it was accidently killed. 



STERNA FORSTEni. 



Forster's Tern. 



Sterna Forstcri Nutt.. Man. Orn., II; 1834,274. 



DKSCIUPTION. 



Si". Cii. Form, rather slender. Size, medium. Color, Adult. Above, bluish-ash. Outer webs of primaries, hoary, 

 inner, dusky next the shaft. lUimp and outer web of outer tail feather, -white, Crown and occiput, deej) black. White 

 beneath. Iris, brown, feet, yellow, and liill, black, yellow at extreme tip. Winter adult. Similar, liut the forehead and 

 entire top of head with hind neck are whitish, leaving a black patch around and behind eye. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Birds in winter dress were formerly considered a species and called Hnvdli. Known by the black bill, yellow feet, and 

 white outer web to outer tail feathers which isalways the reverse with tlie Common Tern. Distributed in summerthrough- 

 ouc t!ic West. Winters in Florida, Rare along the New England coast in autumn. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Average mcasureujents of specimens fronj North America. Lengtii, 14-50; stretch, 34-.50; wing, UV75, tail, 5-35;bill, 

 1-9!), tarsus, 1-45. Longest specimen, 15-00; greatest extentof wing, 37-CO, longest wing, 1150; tail,4-G5-. bill, 2- UK tarsus, 

 I 9t). Sliortest specimen, 14 00; smallest extent of wing, 32-00; shortest wing, 1005; tail, 3-05; bill, 1-8^; tarsus, 1-02. 



