BiEDS OF Indiana. 581 



Range. — America, from Chili to Alaska. Breeds in the interior 

 from Indiana and Kansas northward. Winters south of the United 

 States. 



Nest, of grass, sedges, etc., on an elevation in a marsh or a de- 

 pression in floating drift. Eggs, 3; brown or greenish, spotted and 

 blotched with different shades of brown and lilac; 1.35 by .98. 



Eegular migrant in the southern part of the State and a summer 

 resident about marshy lakes, at least from the Kankakee River north- 

 ward. In some localities it breeds commonly. In the Whitewater Valley 

 I have never found it common, but occasionally in May it may be seen 

 moving northward. In this vicinity I have never found it in the fall. 

 Mr. R. R. Moffitt reports it from White County as early as April, where 

 he says it is to be found from April to August. Knox County, 

 April 18, 1888. (Balmer.) They usually are noted in spring in May, 

 and pass directly northward to their summer homes. The dates re- 

 ported from the lakes of northwest Indiana are as early as are those of 

 the most southerly stations. From May 6 to 15 they are first seen. About 

 the marshes they are usually noted in flocks of ten to forty, and it is 

 not unusual that a number of these birds are in immature plumage. 

 They may be seen flying over the waters of the lake, skimming 

 the surface of the marsh, and sometimes, swallow-like, insect catching 

 over the wet meadows or even the dryer pasture land. While flying 

 they utter a peculiar cry, sounding something like krik! krik! krik! 

 Their principal food is insects. Often one may approach their homes 

 and find none flying, but a canoe voyage through the marsh will show 

 them sitting upon masses of roots of upturned pond lilies or other 

 floating materia]. They nest upon floating half-decayed vegetation or 

 other debris often where the water is not over two feet deep. Two 

 broods appear to be reared in a season, as eggs are taken in May and 

 July. I am indebted to Mr. Ruthven Deane, of Chicago, 111., for 

 the following notes furnished him by Mr. Joseph E. Gould, of Colum- 

 bus, 0. He visited English Lake twice, once each in June and July, 

 1891,andgives thefollowing results of his observations upon the breed- 

 ing habits of these Terns. He says: "I found the Black Terns nesting in 

 what I suppose you call the 'South Marsh.' My first trip to the lake 

 was made on June 17. The water was very high, and we were able to 

 push our boat through the marsh at will. The nests were mere de- 

 pressions made in the mass of floating drift. This drift was frequently 

 very compact and dotted with growing vegetation. Sometimes a nest 

 was found on a bunch of drift no larger than my hat. In no instance 

 was more than one nest found on a drift, but in favorable localities 

 two or three nests would be found within a small space. We were too 



