TERNS 165 



The Gull-billed Tern has greatly decreased in numbers during 

 recent years, and it now breeds only locally and in small numbers 

 from Cobb's Island, Virginia, southward. It is a less excitable bird 

 than the Common Tern, from which and its near allies it may be known 

 by its short, comparatively heavy, black bill and short, less-forked tail. 

 Its notes are a high, reedy tee-tee-tee, sometimes suggesting those of a 

 weak- voiced katydid. 



64. Sterna caspia Pallas. CASPIAN TERN. Ads. in spring. Top and 

 back of head shining black, the feathers lengthened to form a crest; back of 

 neck, underparts, and tail white; back and wings pearl-gray; primaries 

 dark slaty, silvery on the outer web (Fig. 79, a) ; bill coral-red, darker near 

 tip; feet black. Ads. after he breeding season and in winter. Similar to the 

 above, but top of the head streaked with black. Im. Top of head streaked 

 with black and white; back of neck and underparts white; back, wing- 

 coverts, and tertials pearl-gray, spotted or barred with brownish black; 

 primaries dark slaty, silvery on the outer web; tail pearl-gray, more or less 

 barred with brownish black; bill orange-red; feet blackish bcpwn. L., 

 21-00; W., 16-20; T., 6'00; B., 2'80. 



Range. Nearly cosmopolitan. Breeds in N. Am. at Great Slave Lake, 

 Ore., on islands of n. Lake Michigan, on coast of s. Lab., and also on 

 coasts of Tex., La., Miss., S. C., and (formerly) Va.; winters from coast of 

 cen. Calif, to L. Calif, and w. Mex. (Colima), and on s. Atlantic and Gulf 

 coasts; casual in migration north to Alaska, James Bay, and N. F. 



Washington, casual, Sept., Oct., 1896. Long Island, uncommon T. V. 

 Vlay and Sept. SE. Minn., uncommon T. V., Apl. 25. 



Eggs, 2-3, grayish white or buffy white, with rather small, distinct, 

 nd obscure chocolate markings, 2'70 x 1'83. Date, Corpus Christi, Tex., 

 Lpl. 8, 1885; Gravel Is., Wis., June 10. 



The singularly interrupted distribution of this, the largest of our 

 Terns, indicates that it was once a far more abundant bird. It resembles 

 ;he smaller red-billed Terns in general habits, but its large size prevents 

 t from being confused with any other species except the Royal Tern. 

 From Gulls it may be known by its red, pointed bill and forked tail. 

 1908. CHAPMAN, F. M., Camps and Cruises, 301 (nesting). 



65. Sterna maxima Bodd. ROYAL TERN. Ads. in spring. Top and 

 Dack of head shining black, feathers lengthened to form a crest; back of neck, 

 underparts, and tail white; back and wings pearl-gray; inner web of primaries, 

 except at tip, white; outer web, and shaft part of inner web dark, silvery 

 slate-color (Fig. 79, b). Ads. after the breeding season and in winter. Similar 

 Dut top of head streaked with black and white. Im. Resembling young of 

 S. caspia, but smaller and with the inner half of the inner web of the pri- 

 maries white. L., 19-00; W., 14'00; T., 7'00; B., 2'50. 



Range. Tropical coasts n. to U. S. Breeds in W. Indies and on s. 

 Atlantic and Gulf coasts n. to Va. and w. to Tex. ; wanders casually to Mass. ; 

 not rare in summer from San Francisco Bay s. to w. Mex.; winters from 

 Monterey, Calif, and Gulf of Mex., s. to Peru and Brazil, and on w. coast of 

 Africa from Gibraltar to Angola. 



Long Island, one record, Aug. 27. 



Eggs, 2-4, more pointed than those of the preceding, grayish white, 

 with rather small, distinct, and obscure chocolate markings, 2'65 x 1'75. 

 Date, Corpus Christi, Tex., Apl. 8, 1885; near Charleston S. C., May 15. 



A common species on our southern coasts. During the winter it 

 is about the only Tern one sees in Florida waters. It is a strong, active 



