322 



LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS — LONGIPENNES. 



manner of Swallows. It is rarely seen on the racific sea-<!oast, and only in spriu- 

 and fall. 



Mr. I?. F. Goss found this Tern breeding in large numbers in the marshes bordfiini,' 

 small inland hikes and jrhuIs in Minnesota. The late Mr. K. Kennicott mentiom ,| 

 its breeding in the Cahunet marshes, on tlie southeastern margin of Lake Michigu : ; 

 and it also breeds in huge nund)ers in the marshes adjacent to Lake Koskonong, in 

 Southern Wisconsin, where its eggs have been taken, at different times, in consi. li- 

 able nund)ers. 



Its nest is usually placed near water — sometimes over shallows — on iults dl 

 reeds or rushes. More commonly than otherwise it builds in very wet localities, aii'l 

 not infrequently the nest is but little raised above the level of the water. It is made 

 of coarse flags, reeds, and grasses, ami lined with slender bits of the same materials. 

 The eggs — usually three — are occasionally four in number, average 1.42 inches in 

 lengtii by 1.00 inch in breadth, and have a ground-color of a dark <dive-brown, blotchcil 

 and spotted with bistre .so deep as to have the effect of blackness. The markings arc 

 in most cases quite bold, and are principally at the larger end. 



This Tern is quite celebrated for the ease and certainty with which it jtursues and 

 cajitures, on the Aving, the larger insects, such as dragon-Hies and beetles. Its Higiit 

 is rajjid, and it can stop, turn, and alter its course with all the ease of a Swallow. 



It is said to arrive iu Louisiana, coming across the water from the Mexican terri- 

 t<n'ies, about the middle of April, and to continue passing through until into JIay. 

 It reai)pears, in the course of its southern migrations, in the months of Septendii'i- 

 and October. Many pairs breed in the intermediate range between the Southcin 

 States and the (Jreat Lakes. Audubon found it breeding on the margins of ponds near 

 the Ohio Eiver in Kentucky, and ahso in the neighborhood of Vineennes, Ind. 



Professor Kumlien informs me that the lilack Tern is very abundant not only 

 near Lake Koskonong, but also wherever there are suitable situations, such as nuiddy 

 marshes, with water here and there with a depth of from a few in(;hes to three or 

 four feet. In the large marshes, at some distance from the lake, or in a shallow bay. 

 it makes its nest of broken pieces of reeds, the nest being one large mass of reeils, 

 more or less rotten, heaped together, the whole raised from one to four inches abdvc 

 the water. Hut the nests ai)])ear to vary very considerably, there being sometimes 

 hardly anything more than a simple depression, and at other times quite an elaborate 

 structure. The chick (beautifully mottled with different shades of brown) swims and 

 dives when but a few hours old. By far the greater number of the Hlack Terns seen 

 in the hike during the early part of summer have their nests in the adjoining marshes, 

 and only visit the lake for foraging ])urposes. This bird arrives in May, and departs 

 so gradually that it is impossible to say anything more definite about the time of 

 its leaving than that by September these Terns have gone. Among the immense 

 numbers of IJlack Terns seen there in June comparatively few are immature birds. 



Captain r>endire found this a common summer. resident in Eastern Oregon, breeding 

 in colonies in several of the sloughs in the vicinity of Silver Itiver. He obtained a 

 large number of their eggs, nearly fresh, June 1, 187G. 



Eggs of this species in the Smithsonian Collection, from California and from 

 Pewaukee, "Wis., have a ground-color varying from a deep drab, or a brovvni.sh olive, 

 to a light drab, and also to a light greenish drab. Tiie spots are numerous, evenly 

 distributed, and are of a dull lavender-gray, brownish black, and umber-brown, intensi- 

 fied to blackness. Specimens in my own collection, from Lake Koskonong, have tlie 

 following average measurements : 1.21 by .90 inches ; 1.42 by 1.00; 1.37 by 1.00; l..'H) 

 by .90. 



