Vo '; s ,^, 1 " | Mackay, Terns of Muskeget Island. ^^ 



in age, and by the time they are about to fly, the bill becomes 

 wholly black, and the legs a more intense black. The general 

 effect of the upper parts while in the down is a muddy brownish 

 black; when older, the first color of the scapulars is black with 

 light ash brown border, and when about to fly, a slight roseate 

 hue is noticeable, in certain lights, on the breast. 



It is interesting to see how defined and prominent certain char- 

 acteristics of this beautiful bird are evinced in the chicks, in 

 contrast with those of Wilson's Tern. The former has the 

 ' blooded ' strain, resenting in a vigorous, I might almost say 

 fierce, manner, any unceremonious treatment, actively struggling 

 and biting in order to effect release when captured. They are 

 graceful and stylish looking even before they are able to fly much. 

 Wilson's Tern, on the other hand, scarcely shows any of these 

 marks of character (the nearest approach being developed in the 

 red-legged chicks above described), being stupid and lethargic, 

 and but slightly aggressive up to the age of flying. 



Among the series of Terns taken this summer was one Arctic 

 (S. paradis.ea), a bird just commencing to fly, and which was sent 

 to Washington with the others. It is now in Mr. William 

 Brewster's collection. It may be described as follows: Entire 

 under surface white, with the exception of a very faint vinaceous 

 wash over lower sides of neck and a few grayish tipped downy 

 feathers on tibiae and about anal region. General color of back 

 and wings clear gray with upper outside edges and tips of prim- 

 aries and outer tail feathers slate gray, the feathers of the back 

 narrowly and faintly edged first with clove brown and outside of 

 this with pinkish buff; inner edges of primaries and nearly the 

 whole of secondaries as well as feathers of the tail pure white. 

 Feathers of the forehead white ; those of the crown mixed black 

 and white, becoming entirely black upon the occiput and sides of 

 head, including region about the eye. The black of the head is 

 separated from the pure gray of the back and wings by a broad 

 band of white faintly washed with gray. The whole bird is spar- 

 ingly covered with long downy hair-like feathers protruding 

 beyond the others, so light and fluffy as to wave about at the 

 slightest breath. Tip of bill black; rest of bill and feet pale 

 reddish. 



