46 



Jersey coast, and a few may possibly have bred there in former years, 

 although we can find no positive records.* 



Dr. W. L. Abbott secured a number of specimens April 26 to June 

 3, 1877-1882, in Cape May county, and Mr. Scott records two taken 

 May 14, 1877, at Long Beach, N. J., where he considered them 

 rare. {B. N. 0. C, 1879.) 



2S, Sterna hirundo Linn. Common Tern. 



Breeding Range — Atlantic coasts as far north as New England and 



Canada. 

 Winter Distribution — Coast of S. Atlantic States southward. 



Formerly an abundant summer resident along the New Jersey 

 coast, breeding in great numbers on the marshes.f About 1883 it 

 was nearly exterminated, owing to the great numbers slaughtered for 

 millinery purposes. Quite recently, however, it appears to be again 

 increasing in numbers, at least in the vicinity of Atlantic City, where 

 several pairs were found breeding in July, 1893, (^Stone and Morris). 

 During migration it is more numerous all along the coast. At Five- 

 mile Beach this species occurs from April to October (Laurent, 0. 

 Sf 0., 1892), and at Long Beach it arrives May 12 {Scott, B. K. 

 0. a, 1879). 



A few occur during the migrations on the Delaware and Susque- 

 hanna rivers, and stragglers have been taken at various points inland. 



26» Sterna paradiscea BrOnn. Arctic Tern. 



Breeding Range — Arctic regions to Massachusetts. 

 Winter Distribution — Southward to Long Island. 



Rare straggler on the New Jersey coast in autumn or winter. 



The only records of its occurrence that we can find are two speci- 

 mens recorded by Dr. Warren, which were shot by Mr. C. D. Wood 

 in September on the Delaware river below Philadelphia; and one 



*Although this species breeds mainly in the interior of the United States, it 

 has been found to be a summer resident, in small numbers, at Cobb's Island, 

 Virginia {Brewster, B. N. 0. C, 1882, p. 126). 



f All the nests observed by us have been situated on patches of dry sedge 

 washed up on the salt meadows, but Mr. Wm. Rogers states that these birds 

 formerly laid their eggs in the loose sand along the beach in the same manner 

 as the Least Terns. 



