ZOOLOGY — BIRDS. 73 



its surface for some seconds. The specimeQ in the collection was obtained in January, at San 

 Diego. 



STERNA HIRUNDO, L i n n .—Common Tern. 



Sterna hirundo, Gmel. Syst. Nat. vol. I, part II, p. 606.— Ahd. B. of A. Oct. vol. VII, p. 97, pi. 433.— Ib. B. of A. 

 Fol. pi. 309. 



Very abundant. Seen during the spring and summer coursing over the large marshes and 

 lakes of the Sacramento valley, where they incubate. Their migration south begins with the 

 approacb of the inclement season. 



STERNA NIGRA, Linn .—Black Tern. 



Slema nigra, Gmel. Syst. Nat. vol. I, part II, p. 608. — AuB. B. of A. Oct. vol. VII, p. 116, pi. 438.— Eion. & Svv. F. 



Bor. Am. vol. II, p. 415. 

 Skrna plumhea, Wils. Am Orn. vol. VII, p. 83, pi. 60, 6g. 3. 



Abundant^ and one of the most noisy birds of its genus, emitting its sharp note, crik, crik, 

 as it flits over the water in search of its prey. When, from a flock, one of these birds is shot, 

 the others, uttering cries of distress, fly for some time around the hunter, and plunge as if to 

 aid their disabled or dead companion. The sportsman can, consequently, if so inclined, obtain 

 many specimens before they are sufficiently alarmed to fly from danger. 



LARUS OCCIDENT ALIS, A u d .—Western Gull. 



Larus occidentalis, Aud. B. of A, Oct. vol. VII, p. 161. — Ib. Orn. Biog. vol. V, p. 320. 



Found on the whole seaboaid of California. It is very abundant,' as well as the greatest 

 pest with which the egg hunters on the Farrallone Islands have to contend while gathering 

 the eggs of the Murre, {Uria brunnichii,) which breeds here in countless numbers. 



At one o'clock every day, during the egg season, Sundays and Thursdays excepted, (this is 

 to give the birds some little respite,) the egg-hunters meet on the south side of the island. 

 The roll is called to see that all are present, that each one may have an equal chance in 

 gathering the spoil. The signal is given, every man starting off at a full run for the most 

 productive egging grounds. The gulls understandings apparently, what is about to occur, are 

 on the alert, hovering over head and awaiting only the advance of the party. The men rush 

 eagerly into the rookeries ; the affrighted murres have scarcely risen from their nests before 

 the gull, with remarkable instinct, not to say almost reason, flying but a few paces ahead of 

 the hunter, alights on the ground, tapping such eggs as the short time will allow before the 

 egger comes up with him. The broken eggs are passed by the men, who remove only those 

 which are sound. The gull then returning to the field of its exploits, procures a plentiful 

 supply of its favorite food. 



Mr. Audubon gives, as one of the marked characteristics of this species, that the ends of 

 the first seven primaries are spotted with white, whereas only six of the blue back gull (L. 

 argentatus) are marked in this manner. So slight a difference would scarcely warrant the 

 introduction of a new species were there no other distinction, but having shot, one afternoon, 

 some twenty or thirty on the wing, I found them indifferently with six or seven of the first 

 primaries terminated with white. The back, bowever, of a deeper slate color instead of the 

 light grayish blue of the L. argentatus, is a marked feature when the two are contrasted. 

 10 S 



