2^0.3.] SENNETT ON THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TEXAS. 439 



the novel sigiit of Gulls pulling- away at carrion, after the nianner of 

 Turkey Buzzards, in company with hogs and Vultures. The Herring, 

 Eing-billed, and a few Laughing Gulls were represented. As we ap- 

 proached they would lazily fly up, and again alight, allowing us to come 

 quite near. Upon di'iving off all the birds, we observed the Gulls to 

 be the first to return. 



158. Latius delawarensis Ord. — Bing-Ulled Gull. 



In company with other Gulls and Terns, at the mouth of the ISTueces 

 Eiver, during March, and the most numerous among them. 



159. Laeus ateicilla L. — Laughing Gull. 



Very common everywhere upon the coast. In the fresh waters of the 

 rivers few were seen. They breed in Lagoona Madre and about Padre 

 Island in great numbers, but on the 1st of April had not begun to lay. 



160. Sterna anglica Mont.— Marsh Tern. 



Perhaps the least numerous of all the Terns on the coast excepting 

 8. superciUaris, Least Tern, yet not uncommon. We saw it daily about 

 the head of Padre Island during out stay, and it undoubtedly breeds 

 there. 



IGl. Steena caspia Pallas. — Caspian Tern. 



On our cruise about Corpus Christi Bay, I met with this bird on the 

 shell reefs at the head of Lagoona Madre, where it was common, and 

 about equalling in number the Eoyal and Marsh Terns. The next day, 

 March 27, on the lower end of one of the Bii'd Islands, great numbers of 

 Caspian and Marsh Terns were observed. They were mating, and dis- 

 section showed eggs to be developing, and they no doubt had selected 

 this island for their nesting place. They held exclusive control, along 

 with the Pelicans, of one end of the island, while the Laughing Gulls were 

 installed at the other. On the same day, on the other " Bird Island," 

 we saw this species in company with Marsh and Forster's Terns. We 

 did not notice any Caspians in the fresher waters of Kueces Bay. Of the 

 several skins prepared, I took measurements of but one. 



162. Steena maxima* Bodd. — Royal Tern. 



Found in numbers about the head of Padre Island. In the channel 

 between Padre and Mustang Islands is a barren sand island, on which 

 the Gulls and Terns breed yearly in large numbers. At the time of 

 my observations, the Eoyal was most numerous. Laying had not yet 

 begun. 



[*rorthcchangeof name of this species, see Saunders, P. Z. S., 1876, p. 655; Coues, 

 Bull. Nutt. Club; iii, No. 8, July, 1878, p. 142.— E. C] 



