Jan., 1909. Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 297 



Adult in summer: Bill, shorter than tarsus; tail, somewhat forked; 

 legs and feet, black; head and upper neck, plumbeous, bordered 



around the neck by a black collar; 

 outer primaries, black; rest of plum- 

 age, white; bill, black, tipped with dull 

 yellow; inner web of first primary, 

 about half white; shaft of feathers, 

 dark brown on upper surface. 



Adult in winter: Similar, but hav- 

 ing the head and neck white ; marked 

 Sabine's Gull. on back of head, neck, and ear coverts 



with dusky. 

 Length, 12.75 to 14; wing, 10 to 11.20; bill, about i; tarsus, 1.20. 

 Sabine's Gull is an Arctic species, accidental or very rare on Lake 

 Michigan. Mr. E. W. Nelson states, "Exceedingly rare visitant 

 to Lake Michigan. While collecting on the lake shore near Chicago 

 the first of April, 1873, I saw a specimen of this bird in a small pool 

 of water on the beach. At first I supposed it was a Bonaparte Gull 

 and was about passing it when it arose and as it passed towards the 

 Lake I saw it was something new to me and fired. It flew a few rods 

 and fell into the Lake about 30 yards from shore. It was in perfect 

 breeding dress, as was shown by the black markings of the head each 

 time it was raised while struggling in the water. A gale from off 

 shore soon drifted it from sight." (Birds N. E. 111., 1876, p. 147.) 

 According to Kumlien and HoUister: "A young male was shot on 

 Delavan Lake, Walworth Co., October 7, 1900, by Mr. H. P. Hare, and 

 is now preserved in the collection of N. Hollister. This is probably 

 the only authenticated Wisconsin specimen extant. * * * 



In April, 1897, we examined and identified two fresh wings of this 

 species brought by a taxidermist in Janesville to be prepared for a hat. 

 The bird was killed on Rock River near that city." (Birds of Wis., 

 1903, p. 12.) 



Subfamily STERNIN^. Terns. 



The Terns have the upper mandible nearly straight, not hooked 

 or rounded at the tip as in the Gulls. The outer tail feathers are 

 usually decidedly longer than the middle ones. With few exceptions 

 the North American Terns are smaller than the Gulls. 



