STERNA ANT1LLARUM. 479 



white strongly tinged with rosy. Iris, brown, feet, orange, bill, black, orangeatbii.se. In winter, and Youny. Similar but 

 paler, anil tin 1 top of lirad Ls more or less white. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the slender form, blnek bill, and wholly white outer tail feathers. Nestlings of this anil of the three pre- 

 ceding species are indistinguishable, being yellowish above mottled with black, and white beneath. Distributed, in sum- 

 mer, from Massachusetts, southward, Rare as far north as Maine. Winters south of the United States. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 15'15; stretch, 28'50; wing, 9'60; toil, fi-()5; bill, 

 1 '48: tarsus, '70. Lon^c-t -penmen. Hi-Jj; greatest extent of wing, 3U'4'I; longest wing, 10-3:); tail, 7 30; bill, 1'55; tarsus^ 

 8(). Shortest specimen, ll'OO; smallest extent of wing, 2<>'60; shortest wing, 8-90; tail, 4'80; bill, 1'40; tarsus, -60. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND KOUS. 



Nesls, placed on the ground in sandy places, composed of sticks, sea-weeds, etc. Ityys, from three to fyur 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 '05 z 1*40 to l'25zl'8,2. 



HABITS. 



The flight of the Roseate Terns is exceedingly graceful, and I know of no finer sight 

 than a group of these lovely birds, moving along over the green water, pausing now and 

 then to hover for a moment, that they may peer into the depths below. Gazing upon their 

 perfectly symmetrical forms and elegant evolutions, one can scarcely consider them birds, but 

 rather, as beautiful Nereids of the sea, which have left their native element, to sport for a 

 time in the delightful summer air. The Roseate Tern is one among our birds, that I nev- 

 er care to shoot, for aside from a dislike to destroy a being so lovely, the delicate tints of the 

 plumage are so evanescent and so easily soiled, and there is such a marked difference be- 

 tween cabinet specimens, no matter how carefully prepared, and the living birds, that the 

 contrast is absolutely painful. The notes of the Roseate Terns are quite harsh, sounding, 

 when the birds are excited, like hoyet, hoyet, ending with a kind of prolonged cry. They 

 lay about the same time as the other Terns, and their principal breeding ground on our 

 mast is on Muskfeget, a small, sandy island with a slightly rolling surface, on which noth- 

 ing larger in the way of vegetation grows, than a few dwarf plum bushes. In the hol- 

 lows, however, is a somewhat luxuriant crop of ivy and beach grass, among which the Ro- 

 seate Terns build their nests of sticks. They arc very solicitous for the safety of their 

 young and in general habits resemble the preceding species. 



STERNA ANTILLAHUM. 



Least Tern. 

 Sterna antillarum LESS., Des. Mam. et Ois; 1848, 256. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sr. Cu. Form, slender. Size, very small. Bill, long and slender. COLOR. Adult. Above, light pearly blue with 

 two or 'in-ee lirst primaries sooty-black, white on inner webs of inner. Outer webs of outer tail feather, white, Crown 

 and occiput, deep Mack, l.unatr spot on forehead and under parts, white. Bill, yellow, with terminal fourth, black, 

 iris, brown, and feet, yellow. Winter adult and Young. Similar but white of forehead more extended. Bill, black. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the small size and white lunet on the forehead. Distributed, in summer, from Massachusetts, southward. 

 Winters south of the United States. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 8'88; stretch, 19-40; wing, 6'65. tail, 2'95; bill, 

 I'll; tarsus, -7(1. Lonire<t spoci men, 9"<J5; greatest extent of wing, l'J'75, longest wing, 7 '(X); tail, 3 1 15: bill, I'lo. tarsus, -73. 

 Shortest specimen, 8'5il; smallest extent of wing, 1'J'lKl; shortest wing, 0'30; tail, sJ'75; bill, l'( (1; I;UMIS, '65. 



DESCRIPTION OK NESTS AND ECCS. 



Eijuf, placed .in the ground in sandy plan--, three or I'-ur in nunilirr, rather o\l in form, \ar\ini; from liilc to hull 

 ill color, spotted and blotched irregularly with brown, umber, und lilac of \arjingshades, and having an occasional tin.uc 

 of yellowish. Dimeasions from '75z TlK) to ''JOx 1-30. 



