556 THE CASPIAN TERN. 
Jersey, and wandering casually to Long Island and Massachusets; in winter both 
coasts of Mexico and Central America and south to Brazil. 
Range in Ohio.—*Rare visitor in the vicinity of Cleveland’ (Wheaton, fide 
Winslow). 
WHILE there are no positive records of the occurrence of this species 
within the limits of our state beyond the reported statement of a gentleman in 
Cleveland, who in the early days had unusual success in discovering rare 
species, this word together with the knowledge of its recent breeding on the 
St. Clair Flats, in Ontario, would seem to entitle the bird to a place in our 
avifauna. 
The Gull-billed Tern enjoys the distinction of being the most nearly 
cosmopolitan of its race, being reported indifferently from Denmark, Pata- 
gonia, and Australia. It must be a welcome visitor everywhere, because in 
addition to its strong, graceful flight, always pleasing to the eye, it has set 
for itself the task of ridding the seacoasts and lowland marshes of insect 
pests. It is believed rarely to eat fish, which is the common diet of Tern 
folk. Audubon reported that, in all the stomachs he ever examined, he 
never found anything but insects; while Wilson tells of one bird which had 
crammed its stomach full of black spiders, which it had obtained in the 
marshes about Cape May. 
No. 267. 
CASPIAN TERN. 
A. O. U. No. 64. Sterna caspia Pallas. 
Description.—Adult in spring: ‘Top of head and nape uniform lustrous 
black; upper parts pearl-gray, whitening somewhat on rump and posteriorly; 
wing-quills not especially different, the silvery gray nearly concealing dusky on 
exposed portions; inner webs plain grayish dusky; tail slightly forked for about 
one-fifth of its length,—folded wings considerably exceeding; remaining plumage 
white; bill very stout,—the depth at base being nearly equal to one-third the 
length of culmen,—bright coral-red slightly tinged with dusky at tip; feet and 
legs black. Adult after the breeding season and in winter: Similar, but black 
of crown speckled or streaked with dull white. Young: Black cap of adult 
represented by spotting on top of head (on grayish white ground), increasing 
in density until nearly uniform on hind head; above dull pearl gray, sparingly 
spotted or barred with brownish dusky; primaries darker than in adult; tail pearl- 
gray with dusky subterminal spots, or indistinct barring; remaining plumage 
white, bill orange-red; feet brownish slack Length 20.00-23.00 (508-584.2) ; 
wing 16.25 (412.8) ; tail 5.00-6.50 (127.-165.1) ; bill 2.75 (60.9) ; eons of bill 
at base .80-.95 (20.3-24.1) ; tarsus 1.80 sey. 
