LARID.E — THE GULLS AND TERNS — IIVDROCIIELIDON. 



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districts in France and Switzerland. In its migrations it passes througli Italy, Corfu, 

 Crete, Sicily, Asia Minor, and is found in the regions of the Caucasus. It is to be 

 met with during the winter in Madeira and on the African coast of the Mediter- 

 ranean. Kalm — as quoted by Pennant — saw flocks of hundreds of this species in 

 the Atlantic Ocean, midway between England and America. 



Mr. C. A. Wright, in a paper on the birds of Malta, states in reference to this 

 s[ii'('ies that in July, 1870, a large number of these Terns visited the harbors of Alalta, 

 Mild remained until Septend)er; but none of them were in their summer plumage. 

 It was exceedingly interesting to watch their light and rapid movements, as they 

 dropped suddenly from a great height, splashing the water like a falling stone, or 

 cdiu'sed through the air, as if imitating the Swallow. One of these Terns, perched 

 on a floating cork, allowed the boat to drift down toward it, and did not move until 

 idiiiost near enough to be touched with the hand. Occasionally one would exchange 

 calls with a ])assing companion ; the note was a shrill scream. 



Mr. Salvin, late in April, met with a large flock of this si)e(!ies on the coast of Hon- 

 duras, and obtained several examples. Mr. (Jrayson found it at Mazatlan, where it 

 makes its appearance in September and October, and where it remains through the 

 w inter months. Mr. Dresser mentions it as being connnon at the mouth of the IJio 

 (Irande during the summer; but he noticed none at Galveston. At the lagoons near 

 Matanioras he often saw twenty or thirty of these birds at one time. 



Mr. X. B. iloore writes from Sarasota 15ay, Fla., that he was surprised to see, on 

 the last day of June, 1873, two groups of this species, of five each, in a strong gale 

 from the southwest, scudding toward the south. They were in their young plumage, 

 and passed (pute near him. After this none were seen until August l». He inferred 

 tliat some breed in that neighborhood. 



This species is present on the coast of the Carolinas, for a few days only, after 

 the second week in May, reappearing in August. 



Captain Blakiston obtained a specimen of this bird on the Saskatclu'wan ; Mr. 

 Bi'rnard lloss met with it on the Mackenzie, and Mr. Murray i)rocured it on H\ul- 

 smi's Bay. Richardson states that it is common in the interior of the Fur Countries, 

 on the borders of lakes. It breeds chiefly in the swamps, and is said to feeil })rinci- 

 pally ui)on winged insects. 



(Jiraud mentions the fact that the young of this species were found by Mr. Brasher 

 ill the extensive meadows between the Passaic and the Ilackensack rivers, in August, 

 ISl.'i, but neither its nest nor its eggs have ever been detected ; yet Giraud was con- 

 iident that a few of these birds breed along the rush-covered nuirgins of the streams 

 and ponds of Long Island. This Tern, he adds, is very strong and muscular, and pos- 

 sesses great power of wing. It is very active in ])ursuit of its prey, but displays the 

 timidity of disposition peculiar to its race, excej)t when defending its young. 



This bird is of occasional occurren<*e in Massachusetts after the breeding season. 

 Mr. (Jeorge 0. Welch has procured si)ecimens in th(> marshes near the s'' ., in Lynn, 

 late in the fall; and Mr. Maynard has obtained si)ecimens at Ipswich. Air. William 

 Hrewster informs me that one was procured in his presence at Rye Beach, N. II. ; 

 and it has also been taken at Nantucket. 



Hr. Cooper states that this Tern migrates through the interior valleys of Cali- 

 fiivnia, and that some probably breed about the marshes within the State, especially 

 in the mountains, as he met with it on the head-waters of the ^lohave River as late 

 as tlie 7th of June. It is also common along clear water throughout the Rocky 

 Mi'untains, especially in the cooler months, where it fishes pretty much in the same 

 manner as the larger Terns, also feeding on insects, in pursuit of which it flies in the 

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