36 BIRDS OF NORTH CAROLINA 



This species appears to be rare in our State. It was mentioned by Coues as a 

 migrant and also winter resident at Fort Macon in 1871. Bishop found it at Pea 

 Island, July 23 to August 20, 1904. A few pairs, perhaps twelve or fifteen, are 

 yet known to breed near Cobb's Island, Virginia, which appear to constitute the 

 only summer colony remaining today on the Atlantic coast of the United States. 



21. Sterna hirundo (Linn.). COMMON TERN. 



Ads. in summer. Whole top of head black; back and wings pearl-gray; inner border of inner 

 web of outer primaries white, except at tip; throat white; breast and belly pale pearl-gray; tail 

 white, the outer webs of the outer feathers gray or pearl-gray; bill red at the base, the end-third 

 black; feet orange-red. Ads. in winter. Similar, but front part of head and underparts white; 

 bill mostly black. Im. Similar, but back more or less washed or mottled with light brownish; 

 lesser wing-coverts slaty-gray, and tail much shorter. L., 15.00; W., 10.25; T., 5.50; Tar., .75; 

 B., 1.40. (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) 



Range. Northern Hemisphere, northern South America, and Africa. Breeds from Great Slave 

 Lake, central Keewatin, and southern Ungava south to southwest Saskatchewan, northern 

 North Dakota, southern Wisconsin, northern Ohio, and North Carolina; winters from Florida 

 to Brazil; casual in migration on Pacific coast from British Columbia to Lower California. 



Range in North Carolina. Coastal region in summer; breeds. 



FIG. 14. COMMON TERN. 



Next to the Royal Tern, this is today the most abundant member of the family 

 along the North Carolina coast, from which it rarely if ever strays inland. On 

 various islands in Pamlico Sound it breeds, placing its eggs on the drifted eel-grass 

 above high-water mark, or more frequently dropping them in the sand. It is very 

 noisy when its nest or young is approached, and will frequently dart viciously at 

 the intruder, screaming continuously in a high-pitched voice. It is graceful in its 

 movements, presenting a beautiful sight as it beats along our shores early in spring 

 and late in summer, adding much to the charm of a seaside visit. Like our other 

 terns, it suffered greatly at the hands of the plume-hunters for many years. Now, 

 however, thanks to the protection afforded it by the Audubon Society, it bids fair 

 to resume something like its former numbers. 



22. Sterna dougalli (Montague). ROSEATE TERN. 



Ads. in summer. Top of head black; back and wings pearl-gray; outer web of outer pri- 

 maries and shaft part of the inner web slaty black; underparts white, generally delicately 

 tinted with pinkish; tail pure white; bill black, the base reddish; feet red. Ads. in winter. 



