228 Tram. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



remained to breed in small numbers in favorable localities in the 

 Missouri bottoms. During the summer of 1915 a pair were seen 

 throughout the entire breeding season at the mouth of Big Blue, 

 where they no doubt had a nest. 



This tern seems to be slightly on the increase; more individ- 

 uals have been seen during the last four years than for thirteen 

 years prior to that time. 



HYDBOCHELIDON NIGRA SURINAMENSIS (Gonelin). Black Tern. 

 Abundant migrant and not uncommon summer resident. 



The first impatient males begin to arrive about April 26th, 

 followed in increasing numbers all through May by the bulk of 

 the flight and until mid-June by the stragglers. A flock of be- 

 tween fifty and a hundred birds have been seen migrating as late 

 as June llth. 



These terns follow the Missouri Eiver in flocks of several hun- 

 dred individuals and resort to favorite feeding and resting places 

 where they may be observed during every migration. The Big 

 Eddy just below the mouth of Blue is one of these. Here the 

 feeding flocks may be easily approached in a launch and the 

 many plumage variations observed at close range. 



This species has been seen about the Swope Park lakes, Penn 

 Valley lake, Country Club pond and other small bodies of water 

 in and around the city. They are observed during the entire 

 summer at most of the duck-hunting resorts in this vicinity, and 

 are very possibly breeding in favorable localities. 



Several were seen hawking for insects over an athletic field 

 in the Country Club region in company with Nighthawks on 

 May 17, 1917. 



Order STEGANOPODES. Totipalmate Swimmers. 

 Family ANHINGIDAE. Darters. 



ANHINGA ANHINGA (Linn) .Water-Turkey. 

 Formerly an occasional summer visitant. 



A small flock of these curious Southern birds were observed 

 by Bush on the Missouri Eiver near old Wayne City (now Ce- 

 ment City), in 1882. 



A specimen was taken by Bryant on the Missouri River at 

 Parkville in 1898. This bird will possibly not be met with here 

 again; it has been steadily driven south by th encroachments 



