LARID^ — THE GULLS AND TERNS — STERNA. 



309 



pf^gs have since been obtained from different parts of Alaska. Mr. Dall was informed 

 that it was common in the Aleutian Islands, and expected to meet with it there ; but 

 none were seen. 



Four eggs of the Aleutian Tern (Smithsonian Institution No. 1347), procured by 

 Mr. Bischoff on the Island of Kadiak, have the following measurements : 1.65 by 

 1.15 inches; 1.75 by 1.15; 1.85 by 1.10; 1.85 by 1.15. They all have a ground-color 

 of a brownish and a greenish olive; the markings are large, partly longitudinal, 

 (•( ufluent, and in patches, and of a dark clove-brown. 



Sterna antillarum. 



THE LEAST TEBN. 



Slmm minuta, AVils. Am. Orn. VIL 1813, 80, pi. 70, fig. 2 (not of LiNN.). — AuD. Orn. Biog. IV. 



1838, 175, pi. 319 ; Synop. 1839, 321 ; B. Am. VL 1844, 119, 439. 

 Slenia argcnUa, NuiT. Man. IL 1834, 280 (not of Max. 1820). 

 SIcmiila aiUillaruvi, Less. Descr. Mam. et Ois. 1847, 256. 

 Slenm anlillarum, Qoue.s, Pr. Acad. Nat. Sci. I'hilad. 1862, 552. — ScL. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1871, 



571. — Saundeus, p. Z. S. 1876, 661. — Ridgw. Noni. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 690. 

 Sterna siipercitiaris, b. antillarum, Coves, B. N. W. 1874, 692. 

 Sterna superciliaris anlillarum, CouEs, 2d Check List, 1882, no. 801. 

 Sterna frenata, Gamb. Pr. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philail. 1848, 128. — Lawr. in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858, 



864. — Baiiid, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 694. 

 Sterna superciliaris, Gu.vdl. & Cadan. J. f. 0. V. 1857, 232 (not of Vieill.). — CouES, Key, 1872, 



332 ; Check List, 1873, no. 570. 



Hab. Temperate and tropical North America in general ; south to Trinidad. Both coasts of 

 Central America ; on the Atlantic coast north, casually, to Labrador ; on the Pacific side, north 

 to California. 



Sp. Char. Smallest of the Terns (wing less than seven inches). Adult in summer : Pileum 

 and nape deep black, the forehead covered by a broad lunule of white extending back laterally to 

 tliu uycs, the lores being crossed by a black line or narrow stripe extending from the eye to the 

 L.tcral base of the inaxilln, immediately behind the nostril. Entire upper parts, including lower 

 jiart of the nape, upper tail-coverts, and tail pale pearl-gray, deepest on the dorsal region and 

 wings. Two to three outer primaries dusky slate, the inner webs broadly edged with white ; 

 riniainiiig quills pale pearl-gray, like the coverts, the edge of the inner webs white. Entire lower 

 parts pure white. Bill bright yellow, usually (but not always) tipped with black ; iris dark 



/ 



f ■' >^. 



brown ; legs and feet bright orange-yellow. Adtilt, in mnfer: Similar, but lores, forehead, and 

 crown grayish white (purer white anteriorly), an occipital crescent and a stripe forward from this 

 tij and surrounding the eye blackish. Bill dusky ; legs and feet dull yellowish. Young, first 

 plumage : Somewhat similar to the winter plumage, but humeral region marked by a wide space 

 ul' dusky slate, the scapulai"s and interscapulars with submarginal V- or U-shaped marks of dusky, 

 tlie crown streaked and the occiput mottled with dusky, and the primaries darker than in the 



