1912 BIRDS OF SOUTHERX CALIFORNIA 15 



land bodies of water, mostly diirino- mii^rations. 1 have found this gull plentiful 

 along the Los Angeles County coast from August 20 ( 1910) to May 10 (1910), 

 and have noted immature birds common at Nigger Slough, Los Angeles County, 

 as late as June 2 (1910). Recorded by H. W. Henshaw as not uncommon in 

 San Diego Bay during the winter of 1884 (Auk ii, 1885, 232). 



29. (62) Xema sabini (Sabine). Sabine Gull. 



Probably a fairly common migrant on the ocean ; so far not noted along our 

 mainland coast. Howard W. Wright took a male and female near Santa Cruz 

 Island, August 6, 1909, and a female near Los Coronados Islands, August 20. 

 1910: now nos. 2466, 2467, 2468, collection of Howard W. Wright. This species 

 breeds in the far north and is known to winter in abundance on the Pacific coast 

 of South America. L. M. Loomis and R. H. Beck have found it to occur in con- 

 siderable numbers at Monterey during the fall migration. They have noted it 

 at this season from July 22 (1907) to October 6 (1909). Their only spring 

 record is of eleven birds, all seen between the 15th and 21st of ?\Iay. 1907 (Proc. 

 Cal. Acad. Sci.. ser. 4, vol. iii. 1910, 63). 



30. (64) Sterna caspia Pallas. Caspian Tern. 



Although the A. O. L'. Check-List gives the winter range of this 

 species as "from the coast of Central California to Lower California," 

 it is apparently rare in southern California. C. B. Linton took a speci- 

 men at Buena Vista Lake, Kern County. May 26, 1907 (Condor x. 

 1908, 196), and M. A. Frazar took an adult female at La Paz, Lower 

 California, January 25, 1887 (Brewster, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. xli. 

 1902, 23). So far as I know, the only specimen of the Caspian Tern taken 

 in the territory covered by this list is an immature female, now in the British 

 Museum, taken by H. W. Henshaw at San Diego in December ( Saunders. 

 Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxv, 1896. 32). C. B. Linton records seeing eight of 

 these birds at Alamitos Bay, Los Angeles County, December 27, 1908 ( Condor 

 XI, 1909, 68). Mr. Linton tells me that he was very close to the birds and 

 is not likely to have been mistaken as to their identity. H. S. Swarth saw one 

 bird in the same locality. May 16, 1901. 



31. (65) Sterna maxima Boddaert. Roval Tern. 



Common along the coast from September to May. Occasional in summer. 

 J. Grinnell noted one bird at Catalina Island, June 9, 1897 (Pub. 1, Pasadena 

 xA.cad. Sci., 1897, 24), and C. B. Linton saw several at San Nicolas Island, 

 June 17, 1910. The Royal Tern has been reported as breeding on San Miguel 

 Island, but I consider this very doubtful. In June, 1910, I went over that island 

 thoroughly and am positive that it was not breeding there at that tiiue. The 

 only birds seen were a few immatures noted on June 17, one of which was 

 secured (Condor xii, 1910. 173). I believe that the birds seen along our coast 

 during the summer months are mostly immature. 



32. (66) Sterna elegans Gambel. Elegant Tern. 



.\s this species breeds on the Mexican coast and was found by L. M. Loomis 

 to be fairly common off ]\Ionterey, California, in September and October, 1906 



