THE GULLS AND TERNS 



1295 



the size of ringed-billed gulls. The Caspian tern is a 

 somewhat larger species than the royal and has a 

 less deeply forked tail. It is likewise more northern in 

 its distribution. The common tern (or Wilson's tern), 

 the Forester's tern, the Arctic tern, and the roseate tern 

 are all much alike being about fifteen inches long and 

 having the typical tern coloration. They are, however, 

 somewhat different in habits and distribution, the com- 

 mon tern being the most widespread and generally seen. 

 Close observation will distinguish the Arctic tern by its 

 grayer underparts and uniformly deep red bill, the com- 

 mon tern by its white throat and grayish breast, and bill, 

 red only at the base. The Forester's tern can be dis- 

 tinguished by its pure white underparts and dull orange 

 bill and the roseate tern by its delicate tint of pink on 

 the underparts. 



The Arctic tern is the most maritime of them all and 

 is said to have the longest migration of any bird, some 

 individuals nesting well within the Arctic Circle and 

 some wintering well within the Antarctic, requiring an 

 annual pilgrimage of about 22 thousand miles. The 

 Forester's tern is more of a western species and is more 

 marsh loving than the others, nesting in grassy marshes. 

 The common and roseate often nest together on some of 

 the islands off the Atlantic coast but the roseate is more 

 southern of the two extending its breeding range to north- 

 ern South America. The gull-billed tern is a nearly 

 cosmopolitan bird but is found in North America only as 

 far north as Virginia. It is quite easily identified by its 

 short heavy bill and less deeply forked tail. 



The least maritime of all the terns is the black tern 

 which frequents the marshes of the interior. It is easily 

 distinguished in its breeding dress by its black head and 

 underparts but during the winter these are white and it is 

 not so different from the other terns except that its upper- 

 parts are darker. 



There are two tropical terns, the sooty tern and the 

 noddy tern which are common on the Florida keys and 

 some of the islands off the Gulf coast where they nest 

 in colonies of thousands. The sooty tern can be dis- 

 tinguished from other terns by its black upperparts and 

 the noddy tern by its black underparts, as well as upper- 

 parts, only the top of the head being white. 



In the days when the feather trade was at its height, 

 thousands of tern skins of all species were shipped to 

 the New York markets and the breeding colonies all 

 along the Atlantic coast were almost wiped out. Indeed 

 even after some of the nesting islands were set aside as 

 refuges and protected by wardens, hunters congregated 

 in boats near the islands and baited the birds up to them. 

 In this way they were still able to kill hundreds of them 

 because the terns have the unfortunate habit of hovering 

 over a wounded companion and returning again and 

 again, even though shot at, as though they would succor 

 him. It was not until through the efforts of the National 

 Association of Audubon Societies and a few far-sighted 

 Senators and Congressmen that the non-sale of plumage 

 laws were passed. These laws forbade the sale of the 

 plumage of native birds, and made it possible to save 



the few remaining terns. Now the birds are beginning to 

 increase and to nest where they have not been found for 

 years. The least tern alone, seems unable to recuperate 

 from the verge of extermination to which it was forced 

 and it is still a rare bird all along the Atlantic coast 

 where once it was extremely abundant. 



CITY TREE PLANTING 



ALDO LEOPOLD, secretary of the Chamber ' of 

 -*"*- Commerce at Albuquerque, New Mexico, tells how 

 that city conducted a tree planting campaign which 

 offers valuable suggestions to other commercial organi- 

 zations. The first step was to appoint a committee of 

 private citizens experienced in tree planting. This com- 

 mittee drew up a set of specifications embodying the 

 consensus of their opinions as to the best species of trees 

 to plant and when, the best size of stock, and the exact 

 methods of shipment, storage, distribution, planting, and 

 the after care which is necessary to produce the best 

 results under the conditions existing in Albuquerque. 

 The specifications were then published in the local news- 

 papers, and private parties were asked to submit bids, 

 giving the cost per tree for which they would agree to 

 meet the specifications. On a given date all bids were 

 reviewed by the committee, and those bidders whose 

 prices were reasonable were investigated as to their per- 

 sonal reliability and experience and the reliability of the 

 nursery with which they did business. Certificates of 

 recommendation were then issued to all the bidders who, 

 in the opinion of the committee, were fully qualified to do 

 the work. 



The committee then appointed a trained forester as 

 inspector. The certificates of recommendation stipulated 

 that any work not complying with the specifications as 

 interpreted by the inspector would result in the for- 

 feiture of the certificate of recommendation. All holders 

 of certificates were then encouraged to proceed to solicit 

 business in the regular manner of private contractors. 

 These certified contractors commanded the confidence 

 of the public and were aided by an extensive advertising 

 campaign. This was conducted by the Chamber of Com- 

 merce with the full co-operation of the local newspapers. 

 Large numbers of trees were ordered by property owners 

 who had in former years deferred tree planting because 

 they were not satisfied with the service rendered by un- 

 regulated contractors. A total of over one thousand trees 

 were planted, and so far 95 per cent of them are growing 

 and doing well. Under the extremely difficult conditions 

 obtaining in the Southwest, this is a very exceptional 

 showing. The public is well satisfied. The annual plant- 

 ing of trees will be at least trebled, and the contractors 

 state that they will never work under any other system. 



A FOREST FIRE IS A REAL ENEMY 

 Carelessness causes many fires. Are you care- 

 less? Never leave your camp fire without making 

 sure it is completely out. We won the war to defend 

 Democracy. Must we now fight forest fires? Are you 

 careful with fire in the forest? Burning matches 

 cause fires. Break your match in two before throw- 

 ing it away. If you discover a forest fire, put it out. 



