Vol i90p V ] Beyer, Allison, Kopman, Birds of Louisiana. 315 



leaves about the middle of April. It is usually found in company with the 

 other gulls, on the coast or in the interior. 



9. Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica). Resident on the west- 

 ern coast and its islands, frequenting shallow waters near the shore, and 

 breeding in July and August. It is not abundant, occurring singly and 

 in flocks of three or four, in company with other gulls and terns. 



10. Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia). Resident; fairly common along 

 the coast, breeding on low sandy islands; numbers increased in winter; 

 it occurs singly or in flocks of two or three, and associates freely with other 

 gulls and terns, often congregating about the oyster and shrimp canneries. 

 It never occurs far from the coast. 



11. Royal Tern (Sterna maxima). Resident; very common along 

 the entire extent of the coast; breeds in June and July in about the same 

 situations as the Caspian Tern. If one set of eggs is destroyed by a storm, 

 a second set is laid. Like the preceding, it flies singly or in small flocks, 

 though frequently hundreds may be in sight at one time. After the breed- 

 ing season, it roams inland, and may be found in fall and winter on inland 

 waters, especially in the northwestern part of the State. It probably 

 never occurs on the Mississippi River except very near the mouth. 



12. Cabot's Tern (Sterna sandvicensis aciiflavida). Fairly common 

 resident, numbers increasing, however, about the end of September. In 

 distribution, it is chiefly a seabird, being especially common on the Chande- 

 leur Islands and Breton Island. 



13. Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri). Resident on the larger Gulf 

 islands, but in very limited numbers; it grows commoner in fall, occurring 

 both inland and coastwise. 



14. Least Tern (Sterna antillarum) . An abundant resident in all 

 suitable localities along the coast. Has been observed also at Vicksburg 

 in the middle of July, and a few miles westward, near Tallulah, in Madison 

 Parish, Louisiana, where it appeared to be well established, though no 

 evidence of its breeding there was secured. Those seen in Madison Parish 

 were observed repeatedly flying along a slough. In fall and winter, it 

 is regularly seen far inland in flocks of eight or ten. 



15. Sooty Tern (Sterna fuliginosa) . This species has about the same 

 breeding range on the coast as the preceding, and is frequently associated 

 with it. 



16. Black Tern (Hydrochclidon nigra surinamensis) . A common 

 transient in spring and fall; it arrives from the north early in August, and 

 has been seen at Bay St. Louis, Miss., as early as July 26. It occurs chiefly 

 coastwise, but was seen at New Orleans, August 15, 1901, during a Gulf 

 hurricane. 



17. Noddy Tern (Anous stolidus). Resident, but never common; 

 breeds on some of the islands, especially Timbalier and Chandeleur. 



18. Black Skimmer (Rhynchops nigra). A common resident along 

 the coast, breeding on most of the islands, and in some places along the 

 shore of the mainland. Usually flies in flocks of ten or more. In habit, 



