„,j STERNA ANTILLARUM. 



white stroD^'Iy tinged with rosy. Iris, brown, feet, orange, bill, black, orange at base. In winter, and Young. Similar but 

 paler, and the top of liead is more or less wliite. 



OBSERVATIOxNS. 



Known by the slender form, black bill, and wholly wliite outer tail feathers. Nestlings of this and uf the three pre- 

 ceding species are indistinguishable, being yellowish above mottled with black, and white lieneath. Di-^tributed, in sum- 

 mer, from Massachusetts, southward. Rare as far north as iviaine. Winters south of the United !?tat( s. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 15- 15; stretch, 28-50; wing, 9-60; tail, fi'OS; bill, 

 1-48: tarsus, '70. L(mgest «i)ccimen, Ui-25; greatest extent of wing, 3.>-4l; long2St wing, 10-3;): tail,? :W; bill, 1-55; tarsus, 

 •8(». Shortest specimen, It'OO, smallest o.\tent of wing, 2(i-0a; shortest wing, 8-90; tail, 4 8(1; bill, l-4!l; tarsu-i, -60. 



DKSCRIPTION OF NESTS AND J'iCiUS. 



Nes/s, placed on the ground in sandy places, composed of sticks, sea-weeds, etc. Eyi/s. from three to four in number, 

 oval in form, varying frum white, through green, to deep brown in coli;r, spotted and blotched irregularly with brown, um- 

 ber, and lilac of varying shades. Dimensions from l-05xl-40 to l-25s.l-82. 



HABITS. 

 The flight of the Roseate Terns is exceedingly graceful, ami I know of no finer sight 

 than a group of these lovely birds, moving along over the green water, pausing now and 

 then to hover for a moment, that they may peer into the depths below. Gazing npon their 

 perfectly symmetrical forms and elegant evolutions, one can scarcely consider them birds, but 

 rather, as beautiful Nereids of the sea, which have left their native element, to sport for a 

 time in the delightful summer air. The Roseate Tern is one among our birds, that I nev- 

 er care to shoot, for aside from a dislike to destroy a being so lovely, the delicate tints of the 

 plumage are so evanescent and so easily soiled, and there is such ti marked difterence be- 

 tween cabinet specimens, no matter how carefully prepared, and the living birds, that the 

 contrast is absolutely painful. The notes of the Roseate Terns are quite harsh, sounding, 

 when the birds tire excited, like lioijet, hoi/ct, ending with a kind of prolonged cry. They 

 lay about the same time as the other Terns, and their principal breeding gixiuiid on our 

 coast is on Muskeget, a small, stmdy island with a slightly rolling surface, on which noth- 

 ing larger iu the way of vegetation grows, than a few dwarf plum bushes. In the hol- 

 lows, however, is a somewhat luxuriant crop of ivy and beach grass, among which the Ro- 

 seate Terns build their nests of sticks. They are very solicitous for the safety of their 

 young and in general habits resemble the preceding species. 



STERNA ANTILLABUM. 

 Least Tern. 

 Sterna aniillarum Less., Des. Mara, at Ois; 1848, 256. 

 nESCKU'TIUN. 

 Sp. Cu. Form, slender. Size, very small. Bill, long and slender. Color. Adult. Above, light pearly blue with 

 two or three first primaries sooty-black, white on inner webs of inner. Outer webs of outer tail feather, white. Crown 

 and occiput, deep black. Lunate spot on forehead and under parts, white. Bill, yellow, with terminal fourth, black, 

 iris, brown, and feet, yellow. Winter adult and Young. Similar but white of forehead more extended. Bill, black. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Known by the small size and white lunet on the f irehead. Distributed, iu summer, from Massachusetts, southward. 

 "Winters south of the United States. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 8'88; stretch, 19-40; wing, 6f)5. tail. 2 9.j; bill, 

 r 11; tarsus, -70. Longest specimen, 9-25; greatest extent of wing, 19-75. longest wing, T'OO; tail, 3- 15; bill, Mti-. tarsus, '75. 

 Shortest specimen, 850; smallest extent of wing, 19'(I0; shortest wing, fi'30; tail, 2'75; hill, 1-06; tarsus, '65. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Eygs, placed on the ground in sandy places, three or four in number, rather oval in form, varying from white Ui bufi 

 iu color, spotted and blotched irregularly with brown, umher, and lilac of varying shades, and having an occasional tinga 

 uf yellowish, niniensions from '75 2; TOO to 'OOx ToU. 



