SENNETT ON BIRDS OF THE EIO GRANDE OF TEXAS. 65 



but some distance from the latter, a colony of nests but very recently 

 abandoned. Over the locality and screaming about our heads were a 

 few of this species, and no others. The nests, some fifteen or twenty in 

 number, were composed of little bunches of grass in saucer-shape, and 

 contained bits of broken shells and fresh excrement, with abundance of 

 the latter about the nests. Some three hundred or more feet distant 

 were the Forster's Terns mourning over their losses. As we left the 

 nests of the Marsh Tern, the parent birds followed us for a short distance, 

 and then flew away from the island. The island was small, and situ- 

 ated far out in the shallow water. The bird shot for identification was 

 a male. Fortunately, we found an unfertilized egg. In shape it closely 

 resembles that of S. forsteri, but it is more roundly pointed. In color, 

 the drab, instead of being yellowish, has a slight greenish tinge. The 

 markings are also similar to those of Forster's Tern in form and color, 

 but are more thickly placed near the larger end. It measures 1.78 by 

 1.34 of an inch. 



2— $ —14.25 X 36.00 x 11.25 x 3.90. Winter plumage, Feb. 28, Galveston. 

 442— (? — 15.25 X 37.50 x 11.90 x 4.60. Summer plumage, May 16, Brownsville. 



Sterna caspia. Pall. — Caspian Tern. 



I met this fine bird in limited numbers all the way from Galveston to 

 Padre Island on the coast. I saw more about Galveston than at any 

 other point. Bill red, dusky-tipped. Feet black. Iris hazel. 



1 —^—21.60 X 53.00 X 16.50. Feb. 28, Galveston, 



la— ^—20.75 X 51.00 x 16.00. Feb. 28, Galveston. 



4—2 —22.50 X 55.25 x 17.00 x 6.50. Feb. 28, Galveston. 



Sterna cantiaca, Gm. — Sandwich Tern. 



This long-billed little fellow was seen in abundance about Corpus 

 Christi Pass. No specimens were secured, but I have received a skin 

 from there since my return. They breed in that vicinity. 



Sterna forsteri, Nutt. — Forster^s Tern. 



I found this species quite numerous at Galveston, March 1st. On May 

 16th, I founditbreeding in the salt-marshes on the Eio Grande. I became 

 familiar with this Tern in the spring of 1876 in Western Minnesota, and 

 to find it here again was like meeting an old friend. On the same low 

 and nearly submerged island where we found the eggs of Stilt, Riman- 

 topus nigricollis, and some hundred yards or more distant, was a group 

 of these Terns upon the ground near their eggs. When we approached 

 them, they commenced screaming and flying about in great distress. 

 They bad only fairly begun to lay, as no set was complete. One or two 

 eggs were all that any nest contained, and some were not occupied. The 

 nests were situated farther away from the water than the Stilt's, but 

 still where the mud was wet, and consisted simply of a patting-down 

 of grasses and soil into a shallow saucer-shaped depression. About 

 twenty eggs were secured between Dr. Merrill and myself. Several 

 Bull. iv. No. 1—5 



