Least Tern 383 



few are breeding at Dry Tortugas, Fla. In June, 1918, Carlos Earle reported 

 that there were a number of Least Terns breeding on one or more islands near 

 the mouth of Tampa Bay. On June 30, 1918, I found a group of perhaps fifty 

 pairs feeding their young on a small sandy island in Caxambas Pass, Lee 

 County, Fla. There are some colonies on the islands in Mississippi Sound, and, 

 on June 16, 1918, while cruising with Stanley C. Arthur, I found about one 

 hundred birds that had their nests on some small islands in Calcasieu Lake, 

 Cameron County, La. A few still persist along the outer islands off the coast of 

 Texas, especially in the neighborhood of San Antonio Bay. Some fairly healthy 

 colonies exist on the coast of southern CaHfornia. Outside of the United States 

 the birds breed in limited numbers in the Bahama Islands, West Indies, 

 British Honduras, and Venezuela. 



The nest of the Least Tern, like that of many other sea-birds, is of a most 

 primitive character. It consists chiefly of a slight hole in the sand, without any 

 attempt at lining. Most authorities give the number of eggs deposited as three 

 or four. Of the hundreds of nests that the writer has examined, more contained 

 two than four. Occasionally single nests of drift-weed or grass are found. 



When the Least Terns select as a breeding-place an island occupied by 

 other Terns, their colony is always, as far as I have observed, situated in an 

 area quite to itself. In other words. Least Terns seldom, if ever, lay their eggs 

 in close proximity to nests of other birds. The eggs are about an inch and a 

 quarter long and nine-tenths of an inch wide. In color they are brownish white, 

 spotted and dotted with chocolate. 



In common with the Black Tern, these exquisite little birds at times feed 

 to some extent on insects, but their food in the main appears to consist of 

 minnows and small shrimps. I have often watched them along our southern 

 coast as, in Httle companies, they flit along over the creeks and wind for miles 

 through the extensive salt-marshes. They wander into the southern bays and, 

 at times, up the rivers, but along our Atlantic seaboard appear never to breed 

 except on outer sandy islands and spits. 



They begin their migration northward in April, and by the middle of May 

 are usually well distributed throughout their summer home. June and July are 

 the months when the duties of rearing young go forward. Apparently these birds 

 do not rear two broods in a season, but if the eggs or young are destroyed by high 

 tides. Fish Crows, crabs, or other causes, a second laying shortly takes place. 



As the accompanying illustrations will show, the general appearance of the 

 Least Tern suggests a white bird with a black cap. In reaUty the wings, back, 

 and tail are of a pearlish gray and the underparts are pure white. 



In length from bill-tip to tail-tip it is 9 inches, or an inch shorter than the 

 average Robin. Its wing expanse, from tip to tip, is 20 inches, or 4 inches more 

 than the expanse of the Robin's wings. 



The Least Tern belongs to the order of Longipennes, the long-winged 

 swimmers, and to the family Laridae. 



