Zoological Explorations. 253 



purposes. The downy voung collected on this occasion pre- 

 sent two perfectly well marked color phases, as follows: 



(a) Upper parts mottled with black and buffy in nearly 

 equal proportions, the latier predominating on the wings, 

 crown, and sides of head: gular space from gonys to below 

 hinder margin of eye in the ventral line, and from the gape to 

 below occiput, and base of upper mandible dusky; bill light, 

 clear yellow, with a broad terminal band of dusky. Feet pale 

 yellow. 



(b) Entire dorsal surface light buffy, with little or no 

 black showing; otherwise like (a). 



These two phases are perfectly well marked in mv series 

 including five of the tirst and three of the second, and do not 

 indicate sexual differences; neither are they characteristic of 

 age. Three juvs. about ready to fly present the following 

 coloration : 



Top and sides of head colored as in downy young; back 

 mottled with brownish tips of pearl-blue feathers; scapulars 

 dusky; rump and entire under parts pure white, without trace 

 of the pearl-gray of the adults; bill, upper mandible light 

 brown, darkening to a black tip. Feet, flesh color. 



This species "breeds extensively on the shores of the 

 Arctic Sea," (MacFarlane.) 



Nineteen specimens secured; 4 -_ ad., i ? ad., 5 z Juv., 4 

 downy young, 5 ? 



Sterna forsteri Nutt. Forstcr'^s Tcni. I saw speci- 

 mens of what I took to be this tern flying over a slough near 

 West Selkirk, Manitoba. Thompson gives it as common on 

 Lake Winnipeg. 



Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis. (Gmel.V Black 

 Tern. This species was very abundant in the immense 

 marshes near the mouth of the Red River of the North. 

 We encountered it again in countless numbers in the marshes 

 around Chemawawin, where it was breeding among the reeds 

 in the sloughs back from the river, not associating with other 



