128 MARSH OR GULL-BILLED TERN. 



^ three shot within a few hours of each other, and the measurements of 

 several recent birds. You may then judge whether or not our bird is 

 that described by Montagu. 



The Marsh Tern is pretty abundant about the salt-marshes of the 

 mouths of the Mississippi in the beginning of April ; and by following 

 the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, you will find that it comes to us from 

 beyond the Texas, as many make their appearance along that coast in 

 a straggling manner during spring, there being seldom more than half 

 a dozen together, and generally only two. Their journeys are per- 

 formed over the waters of the sea, a few hundred yards from the shore ; 

 and when in want of food, they diverge from their ordinary course, and 

 ranging over the land satisfy their himger, when they resume their 

 route. 



Excepting the Cayenne Tern, I know no American species that 

 has so powerful a flight as the present. To this power is added an 

 elegant lightness that renders it most conspicuous and pleasing during 

 the love season. Then " the happy pair" are seen to rise in elegant 

 circling sweeps, almost in the manner of Hawks, and only a few feet 

 apart, imtil they attain a height of about two hundred yards, when they 

 come close together, and then glide with extended pinions through the 

 air, the male over the female, both emitting tender and plaintive notes, 

 while they vary their evolutions at the same height for five or six mi- 

 nutes. After this the winged lovers separate, plunge towards the earth 

 with wonderful rapidity, resume their ordinary notes, and seek for food 

 in concert. The usual cry of these birds is rough, sharp, distinguish- 

 able at a considerable distance, and often repeated as if to assure each 

 other that they are near. When an accident happens to the female du- 

 ring the breeding season, her mate manifests a most affectionate concern ; 

 but the female in such a case acts differently. On shooting several 

 males on various occasions, whether they were killed outright, or fell 

 wounded on the earth or the water, I observed that the female would 

 only take a round as she rose above the reach of shot, and move off at 

 once to some considerable distance ; but when the female di'opped, if 

 on the water, the male would plunge headlong toward her, and alight- 

 ing by her side, would do all in his power to aid her in swimming or 

 flying off". If she fell on the ground, he would alight there, and exhi- 

 bit the same marks of anxious care, thus aflPording to the gunner the 

 best possible opportunity of destroying him. 



