C. H. Merriam Birds of Connecticut. 133 



individual of this beautiful species of gull, August 1st, 1842." (p. 

 271.) I saw the remains of one that had been killed in November, 

 1875, near New Haven. Specimens of it are also in the collections 

 of W. W. Coe and J. H. Sage of Portland, Conn., and Mr. Wm. F. 

 Lane sends me a specimen from Wallingford, Conn., stating that 

 eight were seen there in the fall of 1874. 



NOTE. The Burgomaster (Larus glaucus Brtinnich) may some- 

 times occur along our coast as a rare winter visitant from the North, 

 but I have, as yet, been unable to procure satisfactory evidence of its 

 presence within our limits, although it has been taken on Long Island. 



274- Sterna hirundo Auct. Common Tern; Wilson's Tern; Sea Swallow. 



A common summer resident along the coast. Captain Brooks 

 informs me that they breed at Goose Island, Conn., but not so abun- 

 dantly as the Roseate. 



275. Sterna macroiira Naumann. Arctic Tern. 



A rare visitor to our shores. Mr. J. N. Clark, of Saybrook, Conn., 

 writes me : " I have an undoubted specimen, in the fall plumage of the 

 young (as described by Coues), taken here last season never cap- 

 tured a mature bird." 



276. Sterna Dougalli Mont. (S. paradisea of Authors.)* Roseate Tern. 



An abundant summer resident. Captain Brooks writes me that 

 they first "make their appearance about the middle of May, and 

 commence laying about the first of June, at Goose Island (one mile 

 west of Faulkner's Island, Conn.), where they breed in great quan- 

 tities, if not disturbed." Through the kindness of Captain Brooks I 

 have recently (June 29, 1 877) visited Goose Island, and have thus 

 been permitted to witness the magnificent aerial evolutions of these 

 beautiful birds, as hundreds of them swept to and fro over our heads, 

 constantly uttering their characteristic cries. They would rise high 

 in the air and immediately dive to the water's edge, then, suddenly 

 turning, would sweep over the island and settle on the large rocks with 

 which it is bordered, always, as the Captain remarked, "keeping their 

 heads to the wind'ard." It is truly a splendid sight, and one well 

 worth going many miles to see. As they cover the rocks, almost 



* See Cones' Birds of the Northwest, p. 688 : 1874. 



