BIRDS OF 



ors is so few, that the Sea Swallows (as they are here called,) 

 are little molested ; then there are several species such as the 

 Common Tern, Forster's Tern, and the one we are now con- 

 sidering, which resemble each other so closely, that the differ- 

 ence can only be made out on careful examination by one who 

 is familiar with the subject. As compared with the Common 

 Tern, the present species is a bird of more slender make, the 

 tail feathers are usually much longer, and the under parts of a 

 much darker shade.. 



In the spring and fall, flocks of Terns resembling each other 

 in general appearance are seen frequenting Hamilton Bay, and 

 the inlets along the shores of Lake Ontario, considering the 

 range of this species it is likely that it is here with the others, 

 but among the few which I have killed, I have not found any. 



In the collection of birds got together under direction of the 

 late Prof. Hincks, and sent to the Paris Exhibition in 1867, a 

 pair of Arctic Terns was included which were said to have been 

 procured near Toronto. 



SUBGENUS STERNULA BOIE. 

 25. STERNA ANTILLARUM (LESS.). 74. 



Least Tern. 



Bill yellow, usually tipped with black. Mantle pale pearly grayish-blue, 

 unchanged on the rump and tail; a white frontal crescent, separating the 

 black from the bill, bounded below by a black loral stripe reaching the bill; 

 shafts of two or more outer primaries black on the upper surface, white under- 

 neath ; feet orange. Young : Cap too defective to show the crescent ; bill 

 dark, much of the under mandible pale ; feet obscured. Very small, only 

 8-9; wing, 6-6 ; tail, 2-3^; bill, i-ij ; tarsus, $. 



HAB. Northern South America, Northward to California and New Eng- 

 hnd, and casually to Labrador, breeding nearly throughout its range. 



Eggs, 2 to 3 ; variable in color ; usually drab, speckled with lilac and 

 brown ; left in a slight depression in the dry beach sand beyond the reach of 

 water, 



This is a refined minature of the Common Tern, and a very 

 handsome, active little bird ; it is common along the sea coast 

 to the south of us but probably does not often come as far north 



44 



