The Gull-Billed Tern. 2L 



two) into brownish-buff, the feathers centred with brown; the wing quills darker 

 than in the adult in summer garb ; bill, legs and feet reddish-brown. 



By the time the bird is two mouths old, the brown and the buff have con- 

 siderably diminished, and during the first spring and summer pigment changes 

 occur, which result in its garb differing from the above only in the diminution of 

 the brown and buff, and in the darkening of the streaks on the head, a plumage 

 almost like that of the adult in winter, in which the brown becomes black ; the 

 back is slightly paler than in summer; the quills (which are fresh and "frosted" 

 in November and December) are hoary grey, and the outer tail feathers whiter 

 than in summer. 



The absence of a dark bar across the lesser upper wing-coverts, distinguishes 

 the young of this species from those of the Arctic or the Sandwich Terns. 



The adult Gull-billed Tern may at once be recognized from the Sandwich 

 Tern, which it so nearly resembles, more indeed than any of the other British 

 species, by the great length of its hind toe. 



Mr. W. H. Simpson, who collected the eggs of this species in the lagoon of 

 Mesolonghi, observes that the greater number of the nests were placed " in the 

 raised outer edge [of the islets], which, in case of flood, would remain longest 

 high and dry. The eggs were deposited upon the sand or soil, in a depression 

 slightly lined with a few bits of dead grass, and are not easily detected, as their 

 colours blend with surrounding objects. The birds appear to commence incubation 

 simultaneously, or nearly so, as most of the nests contained eggs pretty fresh. 

 They did not evince the anxiety which many Terns do about their eggs, but 

 simply contented themselves with flying in a body at a great height over the 

 islands. I strongly suspect that in these hot countries the Terns do not care to 

 sit upon their eggs throughout the day, and this may be the reason why one 

 often sees flocks of S. anglica feeding miles away from head quarters." 



Mr. Dresser, who observed this bird in Texas, gives the following very 

 excellent account of it : — " I met with it," he says, " breeding in considerable 

 numbers on Galveston Island ... In habits it reminded me a good deal of the 

 Sandwich Tern, but was rather more Gull-like, and its call-note especially bore 

 resemblance to that of a Gull. I found it breeding in colonies; and when I was 

 engaged in examining the nests, the parent birds flew anxiously round, uttering 

 loud cries. As a rule the nests were mere holes scratched in the sand ; but in 

 some instances an attempt had been made to form a bed of straws and drift-stuff 

 for the reception of the eggs, which were generally three in number, though in 

 one or two instances I found as many as four in one nest, whereas in Europe 

 two or three are the complement. I did not notice these birds fishing; they 



