80 BIRDS OF THE NEW YORK CITY REGION 



by its relative. Young birds in the fall cannot safely be 

 identified by color characters. 

 Long Island. 



ORIENT. Not common summer resident, May 20, 1915 to 

 September 15, 1915. A few pairs breed on Gardiner's Island 

 with Common Terns. 



LONG BEACH. Mr. Bicknell has four records in the last 

 five years; August 9, 1917; August 19, 1920; August 4 and 

 18, 1921. 



LEAST TERN (Sterna antillarum) 



This pretty little Tern is easily recognized by its small 

 size, appearing about half the size of the Common Tern in 

 life. In breeding plumage its white forehead and yellow, 

 black-tipped bill are additional characters, and its usual note, 

 a shrill yip, yip, is diagnostic. It is usually very tame. 

 Formerly a common summer resident on Long Island, it has 

 not been known definitely to breed since 1882. Constant 

 persecution reduced this species to the verge of extinction, 

 and for years it was a very rare bird. In the last five years, 

 however, it has been seen annually at the western end of 

 Long Island, and a pair seen June 25, 1916 on Jones Beach 

 by R. L. Peavey may have been breeding. 



Long Island. Now an uncommon transient, May 18 to June 

 27; July 28 to September 15. 



ORIENT. Occasional visitant in late summer, August 1, 

 1902 to August 27, 1913. Bred formerly. 

 MASTIC. Rare transient, one record. 



LONG BEACH. Now a regular transient, May 18, 1916 

 (Bicknell) to June 27, 1919 (Bicknell); July 16, 1922 (Hix) to 

 September 4, 1921 (Friedmann). 



SOOTY TERN (Sterna fuscata) 



A tropical species of accidental occurrence, which invaded 

 New York and New England chiefly in 1876 and 1878. Two 

 records; Lake Ronkonkoma, Long Island. September 13, 

 1878; Montauk, September 18, 1883. 



