Harris Birds of the Kansas City Region. 227 



Subfamily STERNINAE. Terns. 



STERNA CASPIA Pallas. 



HYDROPROGNE CASPIA IMPERATOR (Coues). Proposed April, 1917. 



Caspian Tern. 

 Occasional visitant. 



Two specimens of this tern were taken by Chas. Tindall on 

 the Missouri River near Courtney on October 14, 1914. Sev- 

 eral more were secured, probably from the same flock, at the 

 same place ten days later. 



A specimen was taken at Lake City by Mr. J. A. Bryant in 

 the spring of 1886. No other records are available. 



STERNA FORSTERI Nuttall. Forster's Tern. 

 Not uncommon migrant. 



Small flocks of Forster's Terns appear late in April and 

 early May, and again in September and October. Recent data 

 seem to point to the increase of this tern which, though for- 

 merly common, had later become very scarce. 



These graceful birds may be looked for on the Swope Park 

 lakes or any other large pond, as well as on the Missouri 

 River. 



STERNA HIRUNDO Linn. Common Tern. 

 Somewhat rare migrant. 



The Common Tern is usually seen late in May or early June 

 and again in October. It was formerly rather common. Some 

 recent dates are May 10, 1916, when a flock of twelve were 

 seen in Swope Park, and June 11, 1916, when fifteen were ob- 

 served feeding in their characteristic manner about the mouth 

 of Big Blue River. 



STERNA ANTILLARUM (Lesson). 



STERNULA ANTILLARUM ANTILLARUM Lessor. Proposed April. 



1917. Least Tern. 

 Somewhat rare migrant and occasional summer resident. 



Least Terns make their appearance in small numbers during 

 the last few days in April in some years, but oftener in the first 

 week of May. They leave for the South during the first fifteen 

 days of September. 



Prior to 1900 this dainty bird was commonly met with on the 

 Missouri River and about neighboring ponds and marshes. It 



