46 BIRDS 



nest-building is made. Two or three clay-colored eggs are 

 laid, thickly spotted with brown of varying shades. 



THE FORSTER'S TERN* 



The range of Forster's Tern may be considered as cover- 

 ing North America in general, "breeding from Manitoba 

 southward to Virginia, Illinois, Texas, and California." In 

 winter it passes southward into Central America and to 

 Brazil. It is the common tern of the ISIississippi Valley and 

 is quite abundant on the larger inland waters as far north 

 as Manitoba. It is far from common along the Atlantic 

 Coast, excepting at Cobb's Island, Virginia, where it breeds 

 in numbers, though the individuals of this species were not 

 as numerous as were those of the common or Wilson's tern. 



In appearance, as well as in its habits, Forster's tern 

 resembles the common tern. The two species may, however, 

 be distinguished by the color of the outer tail feathers, those 

 of Forster's tern having the inner webs darker colored than 

 the outer webs, while the reverse is characteristic of the 

 same feathers in the common tern. The two species may 

 also be distinguished when on the wing by the peculiar 

 grating note of the Forster's tern, the sound of which has 

 been likened by Dr. Ridgway to the "sonorous qua-a-a of 

 the logger-head shrike." 



Forster's tern breeds in colonies and also in company 

 with other terns and with gulls. Its nest, of flags and vari- 

 ous water plants, is usually built in grassy marshes. The 

 old birds are very watchful and carefully guard their nests, 

 eggs, and offspring. When disturbed at their nests they 



