~)$ BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



Lake Ontario. Dr. Wheatoii mentions its irregular occurrence on 

 Lake Erie, and Dr. Brodie reports it being found near Toronto. In 

 the month of October, several years ago, I shot an immature specimen 

 as it rose from a piece of driftwood in Hamilton Bay, during a south- 

 erly blow of several days' duration, and that is the only time I have 

 ever seen the species here. 



In the report of the proceedings of the Canadian Institute for 

 1889, the following passage occurs: "A Least Tern (sterna antil- 

 larum) was shot here by Mr. Wm. Loane on 'September 5th. This, 

 with Dr. Brodie's former record for Toronto, and Mr. Mcllwraith's 

 for Hamilton, makes the third for Lake Ontario." 



The Little Striker, as it is called along the sea coast, we may not 

 expect to see often in Ontario, for its principal breeding ground is on 

 the Gulf coast, and on the islands of the Atlantic coast of Florida. 

 The eggs are placed in a slight hollow in the sand and broken shells 

 of the beach, which they resemble so much that they are often passed 

 without being observed, and thus escape trouble which might other- 

 wise befall them. 



GENUS HYDROCHELIDON BOIE. 

 HYDROCHELIDON NIGR-A SURINAMENSIS (GMEL.). 



29. Black Tern. 



Adult in breeding plumage: Head, neck 'and under parts, uniform jet 

 black ; back, wings and tail, plumbeous ; primaries, unstriped ; crissum, pure 

 white ; bill, black. In winter and young birds, the black is mostly replaced 

 by white on the forehead, sides of head and under parts, the crown, occiput 

 and neck behind, with the sides under the wings, being dusky-gray : a dark 

 auricular patch and another before the eye ; in a very early stage, the upper- 

 parts are varied with dull brown. Small ; wing, 8-9, little less than the whole 

 length of the bird; tail, 3, simply forked; bill, 1-1^; tarsus, ; middle toe 

 and claw, 1|. 



HAB. Temperate and tropical America. From Alaska and the fur coun- 

 tries to Chili, breeding from the middle United States northward. 



No nest. Eggs, on the bog, two or three ; brownish-olive, splashed and 

 spotted with brown. 



Common to both continents, and extending its migrations far 

 north. The Black Tern has been found in Iceland, and, according to 

 Richardson, is known to breed in the fur countries. It enters South- 

 ern Ontario early in May, visiting the various feeding resorts along 

 the route, in company with the smaller gulls, and retires to the 



