356 LARID^ : JAEGERS, GULLS, TERNS, ETC. 



Of regular and not uncommon occurrence. This 

 great Tern — as large as an average Gull — has com- 

 monly been considered both as a northern species and 

 as rare in North America. But it is neither, for it is 

 known to breed off the Virginia coast, and abundantly 

 in Texas ; and it has also occurred in the interior of 

 the United States, as well as along the coast. Prob- 

 ably no year passes without its presence in New Eng- 

 land. Allen notes it for Massachusetts as rare or 

 occasional in winter (Bull. Essex Inst., x, 1878, p. 29). 

 Brewer notes it as " occasional " for Massachusetts, 

 and queries it for Maine (Pr. Bost. Soc, xvii, 1875, p. 

 449). But Mr. Brewster is more explicit : " The Cas- 

 pian Tern — all previous statements to the contrary 

 notwithstanding — must be regarded a regular visitor 

 every season, and one by no means uncommon. They 

 come down from their northern breeding grounds during 

 the latter part of September, and for several weeks, at 

 least, are to be found in moderate numbers all along 

 our seaboard. I have observed them at various points 

 from Ipswich to Nantucket. At the latter place, upon 

 one occasion, six individuals were seen fishing in the 

 harbor near the town. As to their wintering within 

 New England limits, I can offer only negative evidence, 

 but that points to the inference that they pass further 

 south with the approach of severe weather. During 

 the first week of May, 1875, I found them quite nu- 

 merous at Chatham, Mass. They frequented the sand- 

 bars near the shore, and kept apart from the Herring 

 and Black-backed Gulls, the only other species of 

 LaridcB present at the time " (Bull. Nutt. Club, iv, 

 1879, p. 14). Mr. Purdie informs us that he possesses 

 a young specimen taken in Boston Harbor. A July 



