BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY. ioi 



22 [63] Gelochelidon nilotica Hasselq. 

 Gull-billed Tern ; Marsh Tern. 



Accidental visitor from the south. 



There is only one record : a specimen taken by Maynard in September, 

 1 87 1, at Ipswich, and now in Mr. William Brewster's 1 collection. This is also 

 the only record for the State. 



23 [64] Sterna caspia Pallas. 

 Caspian Tern. 



Not uncommon transient visitor in the autumn ; August 8 to September 15. 



This, the largest of the Terns on our coast, is probably not as rare as is 

 generally supposed. Mr. Brewster, 2 writing in 1S79, says he considers it "a 

 regular visitor every season and one by no means uncommon I have ob- 

 served them at various points from Ipswich to Nantucket." He had seen at 

 Ipswich on September 15th, 1 87 1 , a flock of six of these birds and secured one. 

 On August 27th, 1 90 1, at Ipswich Beach, my brother, Mr. W. S. Townsend, 

 also secured one, a young female now in my collection, from a flock of six of 

 these birds. On September 6th of the same year, a flock of five, possibly the 

 same birds, was seen and one secured at the same place by Mr. B. C. Tower. 3 

 This also was a young female. On August 8th, 1902, my brother saw three 

 flying near Ipswich Beach. On August 29th, 1903, as I was on the beach with 

 Mr. Walter Deane, five of these large Terns flew over his head emitting a loud 

 squeek. In the autumn of 1904, I saw them several times near Ipswich Beach, 

 as follows : August 21st, one ; August 30th, three or four ; September 1st, five. 



It is interesting to watch these great Terns fishing. Their long, pointed 

 wings and the rapidity of their descent with a splash into the water is sugges- 

 tive of the Gannet. I have heard them give a loud, coarse, rasping cry, some- 

 thing like that of a barn-yard Goose. 



Their tern-build and manner of carrying the bill pointed downwards, together 



1 Wm. Brewster : Amer. Nat., vol. 6, p. 306, 1872. 



2 Wm. Brewster: Bull. Nuttall Om. Club, vol. 4, p. 14, 1S79. 



3 R. H. Howe, Jr.: Auk, vol. 19, p. 91, 1902. 



