LARIDiE — THE GULLS AND TERNS — STERNA. 303 



is seldom seen except when on the wing, in pursuit of the small coal-fish which 

 abound in the harbors and inlets of that region. It darts down upon them Avith great 

 rapidity as they swim on the surface. 



Mr. Macgillivray, writing of the Hebrides, says that on several of the smaller 

 aiid less frequented islands many hundred eggs of this bird were taken in a few 

 minutes, and that it was difficult to move without treading on them. A scattered 

 band of Terns hovered about the party, uttering incessant cries, and darting down to 

 within a few feet of the invaders of their peaceful territory. 



In May, 1842, during the prevalence of high winds, the coast in the neighborhood 

 of Bristol, England, was visited by an extraordinary flight of this Tern. They were 

 in such vast numbers that three hundred and more were killed with stones and other 

 missiles, and many were taken alive. Flocks were also observed at other places along 

 the Channel coast, and a simultaneous appearance of this bird took place over a large 

 extent of country in that vicinity. The wind had been blowing hard for several days 

 from the east and northeast, but suddenly changed to the westward, the gale still 

 continuing. The birds were evidently on their route to their northern summer quar- 

 ters, and their intended course was thus interfered Avith by the prevalence of unusually 

 strong winds. 



Audubon found this species breeding in large numbers at several different points 

 on the coast of Labrador, and always in colonies unmixed with any other species. 

 He found them sitting closely upon their eggs at all times. 



The eggs of this Tern are represented in the Smithsonian Collection by specimens 

 from the Yukon River, the Arctic coast. Sable Island, Fort Anderson and the region 

 east, Kange Island, Alaska, Kutleet, Great Whale River, and Greenland. In my own 

 collection are eggs from Muskegat Island and Beverly, Mass., and from the coast of 

 Maine. These eggs vary extraordinarily, some being unspotted, and having a ground- 

 color of a grayish white, others being profusely blotched and spotted, while the 

 ground-color is either a tawny drab, a grayish green, or an olive-brown. The mark- 

 ings are generally of a dark brown, inclining to black. Five eggs, taken as typical 

 of their variations in size and shape, present the following measurements : 1.50 by 

 1.10 inches ; 1.55 by 1.20 ; 1.60 by 1.15 ; 1.65 by 1.15 ; 1.75 by 1.25. 



Sterna Dougalli. 



THE EOSEATE TERN. 



Sterna Dougalli, Uo:<TAGVF,, Orn. Diet. Suppl. 1813. — Kutt. Man. IL 1834, 278. — AuD. Orn. 



Biog. in. 1835, 296, pi. 240 ; Synop. 1839, 320 ; B. Am. VIL 1844, 112, pi. 437. — Corns, B. 



N. W. 1874, 688; 2a Check List, 1882, no. 800. — Saunders, P. Z. S. 1876, 652. — Kidgw. 



Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, no. G88. 

 Sterna pai-adisea. Keys. & Blas. Wirb. Eur. IL 1840, 97 (not of Brttnn, 1764). — Lawr. in Baird's 



B. N. Am. 1858, 863. — Baird, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 692. — CouES, Ki-y, 1872,321; 



Check List, 1873, no. 569. 

 Sterna gracilis, Gould, P. Z. S. 1847, 222 (Australia) ; B. Aiistr. VIL 1848, pi. 27. 



Hab. More southern portions of Palaearctic Region, Australia, and Atlantic coast of North 

 America, north to Massachusetts, south, in winter, nearly thronghout the West Indies and Central 

 America ; both coasts of the latter region. Bermuda (breeding). 



Sp. Char. Adult in summer : Entire pileum and nape, down to the lower edge of the eyes 

 uniform deep black. Above, delicate pale pearl-gray, becoming gradually silvery white on the 

 upper tail-coverts and tail ; tips of the secondaries, and edges of inner webs of primaries, pure 

 white. Outer primary with the outer wel) dark slate ; iiuier webs of three outer primaries white, 

 with a stripe of silvery gray next the shaft, the white extending to the extreme tip of the feathers ; 



