30 BIRDS OF OHIO. 



the international boundary, before they were so fully settled, 

 but positive evidence of the breeding of this species is lack- 

 ing. 



13. (60.) Larus PHILADELPHIA (Ord.). 278. 



Bonaparte Gull. 



Synonyms: Larus capistriatus, L. bonapartii, Choicocepha- 

 lus Philadelphia, Sterna Philadelphia. 

 Bonaparte's Rosy Gull. 

 Audubon, Orn. Biog., IV, 1838, 212. 



This is the most common small gull, but it is only locally 

 common during the migrations. It is said to breed on Gull 

 Island in Lake Erie, but I have been unable to verify this 

 statement. It was not found on the small island? north of 

 our boundary. Migration dates are unsatisfactory and irreg- 

 ular. The species probably reaches the state in late April. 



14. (62.) Xema sabinii (Sab.). 279. 



Sabine Gull. 



Synonyms: Larus sabinii, Xema sabinei. 



Fork-tailed Gull. 

 Wheaton, Ohio Agri. Report, 1860, 371, 379. 



This record is apparently based upon a single specimen 

 in immature plumage captured in Cleveland harbor by Mr. 

 R. K. Winslow, earlier than 1880, and preserved for a time 

 in the collection of the Ohio Medical College. It had been 

 destroyed previous to 1882. 



Subfamily Sternin^. Terns. 



Seven species of terns occur in Ohio, the Common and 

 Black being the only regular visitors in summer. Terns fly 

 with the bill pointing down instead of forward, and the 

 species which we find have a forked tail, while the gulls 

 have a square cut tail. The terns dive into the water for fish. 

 They also eat garbage, and the smaller ones, at least, feed 

 upon insects after the fashion of the swallows. As scaven- 

 gers they are useful birds, but doubly increase our debt to 



