THE FORSTER TERN. 557 



Recognition Marks.^Largest of the Terns; of conventional coloration, 

 black-capped, and mantled with pearly blue; bill large, stout, bright red; the 

 stouter bill presents the chief field difference from the Royal Tern {S. maxima), 

 but this bird is somewhat larger every way, and lacks the definite white on the 

 inner web of primaries. 



Nesting. — Not known to breed in Ohio. Nest, on the ground, usually in 

 sand. Eggs, 2 or 3, buffy white or greenish buff, spotted and blotched with 

 chocolate and lilac. Av. size, 2.70 x 1.80 (68.6 x 45.7). 



General Range. — Nearly cosmopoHtan; in North America breeding south- 

 ward to Virginia, Lake Michigan, Texas, Nevada, and California. 



Range in Ohio. — Rare migrant or straggler. Records from Sandusky, Ross 

 Eake, Licking Reservoir, Ohio River, etc. 



LITTLE can be said of the occurra-ice of this Tern within our borders, 

 except that it is a bird of striking appearance, easily recognizable because 

 of its large size. There is no reason yet to suppose that it breeds in Ohio, 

 the few specimens seen having been, in all probability, en route to or from 

 more northern breeding grounds. The Caspian Tern has a wide distribution 

 both in this country and in the Old World ; but it is reckoned common only 

 in restricted and widely separated localities. 



Of the nesting of this'species, Mr. Ridgway says :■'• "Unlike most other 

 Terns, and conspicuously unlike the almost equally large Royal Tern (5*. 

 maxima), the Caspian Tern appears to breed in isolated pairs instead of large 

 colonies, its nest being usually far removed from that of any other bird, and 

 consisting merely of a shallow depression scooped in the sand, in which its 

 two eggs are laid, with little if any lining, though a few grass, or sedge, 

 blades or other vegetable substances are sometimes added. It is very bold 

 in defense of its eggs or young, darting impetuously at the intruder, uttering 

 meanwhile hoarse barking or snarling cries." 



No. 268. 



FORSTER TERN. 



A. O. U. No. 69. Sterna forsteri Nutt. 



Description. — Adult in summer : Top of head and nape sooty black ; rump 

 white,- shading on upper tail-coverts, remaining upper parts pale pearl-gray ; wing- 

 quills dusky, heavily overlaid to tips with silvery gray, with ivory ^shafts, and with 

 white (decreasing inwardly) on the inner webs; tail the color of back, deeply 

 forked, the outer pair of feathers much elongated and tapering, reaching beyond 

 the tip of the folded wing; their inner webs of a much darker gray than the nar- 

 row outer webs; under parts white ; bill dull orange basally, the terminal half, or 

 at least third, blackish ; feet orange-red. Adult in zvinter : Similar, but black 

 cap wanting, represented only by dusky stripe on side of head, and by grayish tinge 



1 The Ornithology of Illinois, Vol. II. p. 242. 



