Harris — Birds of the Kansas City Region. 227 



Subfamily Steeninae. Terns. 



Sterna caspia Pallas. 



Htdeoprogne caspia impeeator (Cones). Proposed April, 1917. 

 Caspian Tern. 

 Occasional visitant. 



Two specimens of this tern were taken by Cbas. Tindall on 

 the Missouri River near Courtney on October 14, 1914. Sev- 

 eral more were secured, probably from the same flock, at the 

 same place ten days later. 



A specimen was taken at Lake City by Mr. J. A. Bryant in 

 the spring of 1886. No other records are available. 



Sterna foesteei Nuttall. Forster's Tern. 

 Not uncommon migrant. 



Small flocks of Forster's Tei^is appear late in A/pril and 

 early May, and again in September and October. Eecent data 

 seem to point to the increase of this tern which, though for- 

 merly common, had later become very scarce. 



These graceful birds may be looked for on the Swope Park 

 lakes or any other large pond, as well as on the Missouri 

 River. 



Steena hieundo Linn. Common Tern. 

 Somewliat rare migrant. 



The Common Tern is usually seen late in May or early June 

 and again in October. It was formerly rather common. Some 

 recent dates are May 10, 1916, when a flock of twelve were 

 seen in Swope Park, and June 11, 1916, when fifteen were ob- 

 served feeding in their characteristic manner about the mouth 

 of Big Blue River. 



Steena antillarum (Lesson) . 



Steenula antillarum antillarum Lesson. Proposed April, 

 1917. Least Tern. 

 Somewhat rare migrant and oocasional summer resident. 



Least Terns make their appearance in small numbers during 

 the last few days in April in some years, but oftener in the first 

 week of May. They leave for the South during the first fifteen 

 days of September. 



Prior to 1900 this dainty bird was commonly met with on the 

 Missouri River and about neighboring ponds and marshes. It 



