32 BIRDS OF ALABAMA 



merly in the interior, but at present it is unknown there. A 

 record of two individuals seen and one secured in Montgomery 

 County appeared in "Forest and Stream" for 1883 (vol. 20, 

 p. 323). 



This species was once abundant along the entire Atlantic 

 and Gulf coast from Maine to Florida and Texas, as well as 

 in the interior, breeding in large colonies chiefly on unin- 

 habited islands. During the period when the plumage of 

 terns was in great demand for millinery purposes this species, 

 with others, was almost exterminated by plume hunters. For- 

 tunately, however, a few sjnall colonies were left, and with 

 the passage of protective laws and the awakening of a healthy 

 sentiment in favor of bird protection, it became possible to 

 save a remnant of this exquisite species. Efforts are now 

 being made, both by the Federal Government and the National 

 Association of Audubon Societies, to protect and increase the 

 few small colonies now remaining. 



General habits. — This little tern is very active and graceful 

 on the wing. It feeds chiefly over the water, diving beneath 

 the surface for its prey. According to Bent "its food is gen- 

 erally swallowed on the wing, but if not properly adjusted in 

 the bill it is sometimes dropped and caught again before it 

 reaches the water."* 



On Dauphin Island, May 19, 1911, the birds were just be- 

 ginning to nest. I discovered about 20 nests, little hollows 

 scratched in the sand, into which the birds had carried small 

 pieces of shells, some on perfectly bare sand flats, others on 

 the higher parts of the beach among scattered drift (PI. Ill, 

 fig 2). Most of the nests contained 2 eggs, two con- 

 tained 3, and one 4 eggs. The colony was estimated to num- 

 ber about 30 or 35 pairs. On July 5, 1913, I again visited 

 this colony and found no appreciable increase in the numbers. 

 The old birds flew excitedly about at a considerable height 

 over my head, screaming continually. Some of them were 

 carrying food in their bills for their young ones. 



On the east end of Petit Bois Island only scattered pairs 

 breed at present. Holt discovered two nests there, July 28, 

 1913, each containing 2 eggs; and Peters observed about 20 



•Bent, A. C, Bull. 113, U. S. Nat. Mus., p. 277, 1921. 



