T.'lG Wayne oh Birds of the Suxvanee River. 



Auk 

 Oct. 



When walking over Muskeget Island I have noticed that these 

 birds leave the nest when I am a long distance away, being 

 probably apprised by the commotion made by the other Terns, 

 as the Wilson's {Sterna hirundo) , Arctic (Sterna paradisa-a) 

 and Roseate (Sterna do?/gaiii), of my invasion of their precinct, 

 and mounting high in the air circle around, continually giving 

 vent to their peculiar cries. They have two distinct ones, but I do 

 not feel competent to so put letters together that they will convey 

 the sound of either to the reader. One of these is the peculiar 

 note from which this bird probably derives its name of Laughing 

 Gull, it being a weird, wild, maniacal sound, bearing a resem- 

 blance to a laugh, which at once impresses one on being heard. 

 I should not call them courageous birds, as far as I have 

 observed them, for I have frequently seen a single Sterna hirundo 

 chase and put one to flight, which would endeavor to escape 

 without offering any resistance. I have also seen four or five 

 Laughing Gulls concerted!)' chase and put to flight a single 

 Sterna hirundo which offered no resistance to such odds. 



While I do not know if it is always the case elsewhere, I have 

 often noticed that these Gulls keep together and fly in pairs, and 

 even if a number are about, this characteristic is noticeable. 

 Should danger be apprehended they will mount high in the air 

 and circle, continually uttering their peculiar cry, which can be 

 heard for a very long distance. I consider them rather shy 

 except when they have young. 



ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF THE 

 SUWANEE RIVER. 



BY ARTHUR T. WAYNE. 



The month of March, 1892, the writer spent at Branford, 

 Florida. Trips were made on both sides of the river, and as far 

 down as where the Santa Fe Creek empties into the Suwanee. 

 This region has already been described by Messrs. Brewster and 

 Chapman, therefore I will not describe it anew. The following 



