1890.1 Shick on Birds of Seven Mile Beach, N. J. ~2~ 



grass, generally along the border of a salt pond. They are also known by 

 the name of Black-headed Gull. 



Gelochelidon nilotica. Gull-billed Tern. — A rather common visitor. 

 Breeds on the meadows and sand flats at the southern point of the island. 

 I have found it breeding in company with Larus atricilla. Mr. Harry 

 G. Parker has also taken eggs in the same locality. 



Sterna forsteri. Forster's Tern. — Not as common as either of the 

 above. It was formerly very abundant. It associates with Sterna hirundo. 

 Sterna hirundo. Common Tern. — Very common, breeding on sand 

 flats and along the beach, out of reach of the tide. I have taken many sets 

 of eggs each year. 'Sea Swallow' and 'Summer Gull' are two of the local 

 names. 



Sterna dougalli. Roseate Tern. — Breeds in company with the Com- 

 mon Tern, from which its eggs cannot with certainty be distinguished. 

 They are not nearly as plentiful as they were five years ago, when it was 

 an easy task to go out and gather several bushels of eggs in a few hours. 

 Sterna antillarum. Least Tern. — A very common breeder. I have 

 taken eggs every year since 1882. I must state, however, that all of the 

 Terns are gradually forsaking their former breeding grounds on account 

 of the new seaside resorts that are being started on all the islands. For- 

 merly many hundred pairs occupied a small sand flat near Sea Isle City, 

 but they are now all gone, not one pair breeding where a few years ago 

 hundreds raised their young. 



Rynchops nigra. Black Skimmer. — Breeds, but not very commonly. 

 Several years ago I could go out during the breeding season and take all 

 the sets I desired; they are very scarce now. Residents throughout Cape 

 May County call this bird 'Shearwater,' 'Razorbill,' and 'Broadbill.' 



Ardea ccerulea. Little Blue Heron. — A few pairs still holdout in a 

 thick grove of cedar trees on the lower part of the island. Capt. William 

 Sutton, an old resident in this locality, informs me that in former years, 

 there was a large heronry on this beach, which the residents of the main- 

 land would visit every spring, when they would secure hundreds of their 

 eggs. He stated that even after taking large basketfuls, one could not 

 notice a diminishing of nests. He was confident that several thousand 

 pairs occupied the lower end of Seven Mile Beach. 'Booby' is its most 

 common name in this locality. 



Ardea virescens. Green Heron; 'SqyAWK'; 'Fly-up-the-Creek'- 

 'Booby.' — It is very abundant and at any time after May 10 can be found 

 in the deep woods, along the edge of the meadows, and even on the beach 

 in search of food. It nests in low bushes, within a foot of the ground, and 

 in trees fifty feet from terra firma. Its nest is built in a very slovenly fash- 

 ion, and in many cases I have counted the three or four pale green eggs 

 from- the foot of the tree. This season I took many fine sets of three and 

 four eggs each. 



Nycticorax nycticorax naevius. Black-crowned Night Heron. 



Not common. Breeds in small colonies among the cedar trees near swamps. 

 Rallus longirostris crepitans. Clapper Rail. — This is one of the 



