LARID^ — THE GULLS AND TERNS — STERNA. 



279 



and Mr. G. B. Sennett found a large colony of these Terns breeding in company with 

 the Sterna Forstcri, on a salt prairie, near Fort Brown, Texas, May IG, 1877. Tlie 

 latter mentions having also observed this species, March 1, at Galveston, and after- 

 ward at Nueces Bay and Corpus Christi Bass. Near Fort Brown the two Terns 

 wiTe breeding at adjacent but separate localities. 



Mr. Dresser also found it breeding on the coast of Texas, near Galveston. He 

 also states that he found it not uncommon near Alatamoras in July and August. On 

 the 2d of June, 18G4, he observed it breeding on Galveston Island, the eggs being then 

 incubated. The nest was generally merely a hole scratched in the sand ; but in some 

 instances an attempt had been made to form a bed of straw and drift-stuff. The eggs 

 were generally three, but sometimes four, in number. 



A single specimen of this Tern was obtained on Ipswich beach, in September, 

 1S71, by Mr. C. J. Maynard; with this exception I am not aware of any having been 

 taken in New England. Giraud speaks of this Tern as being very rare about Long 

 Island, where he never met with it in any of his excursions. Mr. Lawrence includes 

 it in his list of birds found about New York. 



Wilson met with it in the neighborhood of Cape jVIay, particularly in the salt- 

 iiKushes, where it was found to feed largely on a kind of black spider, plentiful in 

 such places, and which seemed to constitute its principal food, as in several of these 

 birds which he opened the stomach was crammed with a mass of sjiiders and nothing 

 else. Tlie voice of this species he describes as being stronger and sharper than that 

 of the common Tern. This bird did not associate with others, but kept in small 

 parties by itself. He found it breeding on the marshes, the female dropping her 

 ('!,'!is — which were three or four in number — on the dry drift gras,«, without the 

 slightest appearance of a nest. He describes them as being of a greenish olive, 

 spotted with brown. 



According to Audid)on, this Tern is abinulant in the beginning of April about the 

 salt-marshes at the mouth of the Mississippi, making its ajuiearance along the coast 

 in small flocks, there being seldom more than half-a-dozen individuals together, and 

 ortcn only two. He speaks of its flight as being renuirkable for its power, as well 

 as for its elegance. Its usual cry is rough and sharj), distinguishable at a consider- 

 alile distance, and often repv.'>ted. It swims buoyantly, but not swiftly, and when 

 wounded does not attempt to dive ; but if taken in the hand bites severely, with- 

 out uttering any cry. Audubon is inclined to the belief that this Tern rarely eats 

 tish. In a large number of individuals of this species, obtained in various localities, 

 lio never found any other food in their stomachs than insects of various kinds. In 

 many instances he observed them catching insects on the wing, both over pools of 

 water and over dry land. 



Audubon also states that they deposit three eggs, on such dry rushes as are com- 

 monly found in salt-marshes, and at a short distance from the water, but carefully 

 placed, so as to be beyond the reach of the tides. Like the eggs of all Terns, these 

 dilfer considerably in their markings. They are .said to measure 1.75 inches in 

 length, and 1.07 in breadth, and have a greenish-olivuceous ground-color, marked with 

 ivregnlar splashes of dark umber, almost black, disposed around the larger end. The 

 parents sit more closely than is usual with Terns ; and in cloudy weather they never 

 leave their charge. 



Temminek mentions that Boie procured a number of examples of this bird from 

 tlic eastern coast of Jutland, where the latter was assured that it breeds ; and ]Mr. 

 Dresser cites mnnerous instances of its breeding in various parts of Denmark. It 

 formerly bred on the Island of Lips, in tlie Baltic, and is now a rare visitant to the 



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