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LOX«-;-wixui;u swimmers — longu'knnes. 



According to Dr. Coojmt. this Tern wanders in niidsuninier along the I'acifu' coast 

 as far north as the Cohunbia l\iver. (^n tlie Athmtic it occasionally visits Lon'^ 

 Island and. more rarely, the islands i>t" Sunthcastern Massachnsetts. where a jiair wa- 

 ohtained in the summer of 1874 by Mr. C .'. Maynard and Mr. William Urewstir. 

 A few breed as far north as ."Southern Maryland, on its eastern shore. 



Late in July. 1879. Messrs. Kidgway and Henshaw met with this Tern in consid- 

 erable numliers at I'oblVs Island, on tb.e eastern shore of Virginia. It was in company 

 with .S. I'lsjilit : and the two species were confounded l)y the residents of the island 

 under the common name of •• Gannet-strikcrs." or •■ (Jannets." This sju'cics ajipean d 

 to be nuK-h the more numerous of the two. Mr. Kidgway visited the same hK^alitv 

 the l\)llowing season (July. 1880). and found a colony numbering several thousauils 

 breeding near the northern end of the island, their eggs covering thit-kly an area of 

 less than an acre in extent. 



This species occurs in several of the West India islands. It was found breeding 

 in Cuba by Dr. CJundhudi. In 18,">4 I'rofessor Alfred Newton received from St. Croix 

 an example of this bird which had been killed on that island ; and he afterward nut 

 infrec^ucntly saw Tcriis in that vicinity which he judged to be the same si)eci(s. 

 Leotaud mentions this bird as being an occasional visitant of Trinidad ; the Terns 

 which are seen are chiefly in their innnature plumage, appearing to Ik- migratory 

 only, coming in August during the period of the wintry rains. Tliev are also common 

 in Jamaica, where, according to Mr. (iossc. this is the most abundant species about 

 the Pay of Ulueiiclds. 



Giraud states that this Tern, though rare on Long Island, is yet not entirely un- 

 known in that locality; ami he mentions the existence in private cabinets of two 

 specimens, sliot at Islip. He also states that Mr. Bell has from time to time received 

 other specimens procured at various points of the southern coast, near IJaynor South, 

 and MiU'iches. and in that vicinity. 



Dr. Cooper mentions this as the only species of Tern sei>n by him on the coast of 

 California, where it is abundant at all seasons, lie did not. however, ascertain where 

 it breeds, and saw no huality which would seem favorable for this purpose. Even 

 San Nicolas, the only island lying far south to which it resorts, is too much infested 

 by foxes ; and there seemed to be no Terns on Santa Barbara, which is such a favor- 

 ite nesting-idace for several other species. 



Mr. Henshaw docs not think that the range of this Tern extends any farther 

 north than the coast id' California, where it is of rather common occurrence. He saw 

 it near San Francisco, and received from Captain Foriu'v a specimen which had been 

 obtaineil on the Islam! of San Miguel, where it is known to breed. 



This bird is usually ob.served Hying in straight lines along the shores, or up and 

 tlown the bays, occasionally uttering a S(]uealing cry, and often darting ilircctly down 

 into the water as if shot, but generally emerging with a tish, which is immediately 

 swallowed, oi\ if too large, divided by its sharp cutting bill. This Tern is generally 

 a very shy and suspicious bird: but if woumled, will strike Inddly with its bill — being 

 much uuire jiugnaciuus than arc the tamer (JuUs. Though it usually tishes singly. 

 yet it will associati' in large flocks on its resting-place ; and when one of thc.se birds 

 is wounded, all its companions will Hy anxiously around in such proximity as to be 

 easily shot. 



In the autumn months Mr. Gosse used frei]uently to see individuals of this specie-; 

 engaged in fishing on a reef about a (]uarter id" a nule from the Jamaican shiu'c. The 

 birds were solitary in their habits, and did not associate with others of their kind. 

 They would fly rapidly around in large circles high above the water, fhipphig their 



