176 LEAST TERN. 
observed this Tern on the waters of the Ohio in autumn, and now and 
then in spring, atthe latter period in company with the Short-tailed Tern, 
Sterna nigra, and have again met with it on the shores of Lake Erie. 
I have also found it in winter on the eastern coast of the Floridas, but 
in small numbers. Few birds indeed seem to me to be so irregular in 
their migratory movements, for they appear to stop at any convenient 
breeding place from Texas to Labrador. 
This species in some of its habits resembles the Marsh Tern of 
Witsoy, which I feel certain is the Sterna anglica of Montacu. The re- 
semblance is especially manifest in the peculiar manner in which it 
seizes insects while on wing over the pools of salt marshes and else- 
where, where it is fond of rambling whenever the weather is at all 
fine or pleasantly warm. It then plunges toward the ground or the 
water, and, like a true Flycatcher, snatches its prey unawares from 
the tops of the grasses, or whilst flying over the shallow green-mantled 
pools. 
Few birds are more gentle than this delicate species is at times ; for, 
apparently unaware of danger from the vicinity of man, it allows him to 
approach within a few yards, whether it be on wing or on the ground. 
Indeed, in the latter case, I have seen it when gorged so reluctant to 
fly off that I have more than once thought it was asleep, although on 
coming up I was always disappointed in my attempts to catch it. No- 
thing can exceed the lightness of the flight of this bird, which seems 
to me to be among water-fowls, the analogue of the Humming-bird. 
They move with great swiftness at times, at others balance them- 
selves like hawks over their prey, then dart with the velocity of thought 
to procure the tiny fry beneath the surface of the waters. When 
you invade their breeding place, they will sometimes sweep far away, 
and suddenly return, coming so near as almost to strike you. While 
travelling, their light but firm flight is wonderfully sustained ; and on 
hearing and seeing them on such occasions, one is tempted to believe 
them to be the happiest of the happy. They seem as if marshalled 
and proceeding to a merry-making, so gaily do they dance along, as if 
to the music of their own lively cries. Now you see the whole group 
suddenly check their onward speed, hover over a deep eddy supplied 
with numberless shrimps, and dash headlong on their prey. Up 
rises the little thing with the shrimp in its bill, and again down it 
plunges ; and its movements are so light and graceful that you look on 
