FORSTER'S TERN. 477 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known from the closely allied fonteri, by the dnrk color of the outer webs of outer tail feathers, and from adult mac- 

 roura by the black tip to bill and longer tarsus. See other species for further comparison. Distributed, in summer, form 

 Virginia to the far North. Winters, south of the United States. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 14'60; stretch, 30'20; wins, 10'40; tail, 6'25; bill, 

 I 1-': tarsus, -HO. Longest specimen. 15'filt; greatest extent of wing, 31*9 I; Impost wing, ll'.lfl; tail,? 00; bill, 1-55; tarsus, 

 !)tl. Shortcut sperimcn, 13'W); smallest extent of wing, 28'50; shortest wing, !) 3.j; tail, 5-5:2; bill, 1'30; tarsus, -75. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EUGS. 



V N/.<, placed on the ground in sandy places, composed of grass, sea-weeds, etc. Eggs, from three to four in number, 

 oval in form, varying from white, through green, to deep brown in color, spotted and blotched irregularly with brown, um- 

 ber, and lilac of varying shades. Dimensions from 1 *05zl '40 to 1 '25x1*83. 



HABITS. 



The Common Terns are by far the most abundant species on our coast, north of Vir- 

 ginia, and extend their range into the far North. I found them very abundant on the Mag- 

 dalen Islands, breeding, not only on the sand-bars, but also on the grassy tops of isolated 

 rocks, two hundred feet high, with precipitous sides, and which had become detached from 

 the cliffs on the western shores of Grindstone Island, but which were only separated from 

 the shore by a chajiu of a few yards in width. As the eggs of these Terns are much sought 

 after for food by fishermen and others, it is probable that they were driven to these nearly 

 inaccessible places by constant persecution. When nesting, these Terns are not re'marka- 

 bly shy, and if the breeding ground is approached, all the birds will rise and fly to meet 

 the intruder, uttering their loud, shrill notes which sound likete-arr te-arr; then will hov- 

 er over the head of the invader, often but a short distance from him, or will make frantic 

 dives at him, passing within a few feet of his head. If a shot be fired at them, every bird 

 will dash downward and, for a moment, become silent, only, however, to resume their cries 

 with greater vehemence. They gather around a wounded or dead companion, especially 

 if it chance to fall into the water, hovering directly over it, and displaying by their cries, 

 the most profound sympathy for its misfortunes. These Terns, when unmolested, breed 

 about the middle of June, and the young make their appearance during the first week 

 in July, running as soon as hatched, but are cared for by the parents until able to fly well, 

 which occurs in August. The young are easily tamed, and I once possessed one that dis- 

 played considerable intelligence. It fed readily on small fish and grew to be a fine, large 

 bird, when it was accidently killed. 



STERNA FORSTEJII. 



Forster's Tern. 

 Sterna Fonteri NUTT., Man. Orn., II; 1834,274. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cn. Form, rather slender. Size, medium. COLOR. Adult. Above, bluish-ash. Outer webs of primaries, hoary, 

 inner, dusky next the shaft. Rump anil outer web of outer tail feather, white, frown and occiput, deep black. White 

 beneath. Iris, brown, feet, yellow, and bill, blaek, yellow at extreme tip. Winter adult. Similar, but the forehead and 

 entire top of head with hind neck arc whitish, leaving a black patch around and behind eye. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



I'irds in winter dress were formerly considered u specie- an i "allud Hnnlli. Known by the black bill, yellow feet, and 

 white outer web to outer tail feathers which is always the reverse with the Common Tern. Distributed in summer through- 

 cm the West. Winters in Florida. Rare along the New Kii_ r l:iu<l c>>ast in autumn. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average m< asureinerits of speeimen from North America. Length, 14'5(p; stretch, 3I-.10; wing, 10'75, tail. 5'35;bill, 

 I '9!); tarsus, PIS. Longest s|<>eimen, 15'(K); .tent of wing, 37'00, longest wing, IT. 10; t:iil,4*f>;V. bill, S'lO-. tarsus, 



1 SKI. Shortest . specimen, 1 J 00; smallest extent of wing, 3d'0(l; shortest wing, 10'05; tail, 3'0">; bill, l'*i; tarsus, 1'OsJ. 



