NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 37 



above the beach, and is covered with a thick growth of weeds and 

 grass ; in this some of the nests were concealed ; others were in plain 

 sight; they were so numerous as to fairly cover the ground. They 

 were nothing more than slight hollows lined with dry grass, and con- 

 tained usually two eggs. Mr. GrifSng says he is satisfied that this is 

 the usual number laid by this species, as there were but two sets con- 

 taining three eggs in the hundreds of nests observed ; incubation had 

 begun in nearly every set, and many were almost hatched. Some of 

 the eggs were laid on the shore just above high water mark. 



Mr. Griffing says that the eggs differ from those of the Common 

 Tern, being less pointed at the small end ; the markings are usually 

 much finer and more numerous. By placing a tray of the eggs of 

 each species side by side the difference is very marked. They vary in 

 size from 1.55 to 1.75 in length by i.io to 1.25 in breadth. Mr. Griijfing 

 states the birds are very noisy when their nests are being disturbed ; 

 hovering overhead they utter a harsh gutteral cry, peculiar to the 

 species. They also have a note which sounds like the syllable tip^ tip, 

 tip. 



73. Sterna aleutica Baird. [689.] 



Aleutian Tern. 



Hab. Coast of Alaska, from the Island of Kadiak to Norton Sound. 



This Tern has been found nesting in various parts of Alaska; 

 on the Island of Kadiak, and on some of the Eastern Aleutian Islands. 

 So far as known, its habits do not differ essentially from those of other 

 terns. The eggs measure from 1.65 to 1.85 long by i.io to 1.15 broad. 

 They have a ground color, varying from brownish-white to greenish- 

 olive, with bold marking of light reddish and chestnut brown. 



74. Sterna antlllarnm (Less). [690.] 



Least Tern. 



Hab. Northern South America, north to California and New England, and casually to Labrador, breed- 

 ing nearly throughout its range. 



This pretty little Sea Swallow breeds on the Island of Cuba, and 

 other islands of the West Indies, along the coasts of Central America 

 and Mexico. Mr. Stuart says it breeds abundantly on the white sand 

 beaches of the Gulf Coast, and on the islands of the Atlantic coast of 

 Florida. The eggs are laid on the bare sand in May and June. 



The " Ivittle Striker," as it is called, is found nesting on the At- 

 lantic coast as far north as Massachusetts ; a few, however, breed a 

 little farther north. The eggs are difficult to observe on the breeding 

 grounds, their color being very similar to the sand and broken shells 

 in which they are laid. They are two or three, and seldom four in 



