506 Annals of the Carnegie Museum. 



12. Sterna caspia. Caspian Tern. 



This large tern was rather common during the fall migration of 

 1900, from September 4 until October 3. Although occasionally met 

 with by itself, singly, or in small companies, it was more frequently 

 found associated with the Herring Gull, both on the bay and lake, and 

 like that species was rather shy. The large flock of gulls on the out- 

 side beach included a number of Caspian Terns, which could easily be 

 distinguished, if adults, by their bright red bills. The adults had a 

 harsh, rasping cry, which was very distinctive, while the note of the 

 immature birds was more musical. Two specimens, an adult and 

 a young one, were secured by us, both on the outside beach, and Mr. 

 Simpson also shot two birds on September 17. There is a single 

 specimen (September 15, 1888) in Mr. Sennett's collection, and Mr. 

 Bacon has observed the species as a regular visitant in September and 

 October, although he has never seen more than ten or twelve in any 

 one season. An immature bird taken October 6, 1892, and an adult 

 and young, taken September 21, 1901, by Mr. Bacon, are in the 

 Carnegie Museum. The only spring record appears to be that of Mr. 

 Simpson, who notes that "during the terrific 'northwester' of April 

 26, 1902, I saw three on Misery Bay in the company of Common 

 Terns and Bonaparte's Gulls." 



[Sterna forsteri. Forster's Tern. 



Careful search was made for this tern in the spring and fall of 1900, but none were 

 identified, although the species, being more a bird of the interior than Sterna hirundo, 

 would naturally be expected to occur. The nearest locality (on the Great Lakes) 

 from which it is reported appears to be the St. Clair Flats, (Cook, Birds of Michi- 

 gan, 1893, z 9)-] 



13. Sterna hirundo. Common Tern. 



A regular transient, abundant in the spring, and fairly common in 

 the fall. It has been recorded as early in the spring as April 26 

 (1902) by Mr. Simpson, but in 1900 we did not meet with it until 

 May 7, when a few were observed with the Bonaparte's Gulls on the 

 bay, and at least fifty individuals were seen in a flock by themselves. 

 For about two weeks thereafter they were very common indeed, and a 

 number were noted as late as May 29. While the Bonaparte's Gulls 

 remained the terns were frequently found in their company, and both 

 could be decoyed by throwing over a dead bird and imitating their 

 cry. When shot at the terns presently mounted high in the air above 

 their dead companions, while the gulls dispersed or passed on. Later 



