268 



Lastly, as regards its distribution in America, where it has been called S. wilsonii by Prince 

 Bonaparte, Dr. Elliott Coues, who has written an excellent monographic account of the Terns 

 of the Nearctic Region, agrees with us that the American Tern is not to be separated from 

 S. fluviatilis of Europe. It seems to be found in most parts of North America; Mr. Lawrence 

 gives its range from Texas to Labrador. Audubon writes : — " I have observed this species along 

 the Atlantic coast of North America, from Galveston Island, in Texas, to the Straits of Belle Isle, 

 on the coast of Labrador, both in spring and in early autumn. But when on the islands of 

 Galveston Bay in the month of April, I saw only a few arriving there from the west ; whereas 

 in the beginning of May great mimbers arrived there from the east, settled at once, and began 

 breeding. I felt convinced that the numbers which came from the direction of the Eloridas were 

 much greater than those which arrived from the westward, and judged it probable that vast 

 numbers had at the same time left the peninsula on their way northward. Should other travellers 

 observe the same or similar phenomena at the season mentioned, it will be proved that this 

 species does not extend its autumnal migration as far as several others, which I observed arriving 

 at Galveston Island from the south-west — for example, the Least Tern (Sterna minata), the 

 Cayenne Tern (St. cayana), and the Black Tern (St. nigra)." Dr. Otto Finsch writes to us as 

 follows: — "Sterna wilsonii, Bp., is without doubt the same as our St. hirrmdo, L., as already 

 stated by Prince Max. von Wied (J. f. O. 1859, p. 58). I have North-American specimens before 

 me which I cannot possibly find to differ from the European bird, either in size or colour. On 

 the other hand, the North- American Sterna fosteri is easily distinguishable from Sterna hirundo 

 by its longer tarsus and toes, and the white outer web of the outer tail-feathers, which latter are 

 always grey in Sterna hirundo." 



The celebrated Alexander Wilson, so aptly named by Mr. D. G. Elliot " the poet natu- 

 ralist," was one of the best describers of the habits of birds ; and we have taken the following 

 account of the Common Tern from his great work the 'Birds of North America': — "The 

 present species, or Great Tern, is common to the shores of Europe, Asia, and America. It 

 arrives on the coast of New Jersey about the middle or twentieth of April, led no doubt by the 

 multitudes of fish which at that season visit our shallow bays and inlets. By many it is called 

 the Sheep's-head Gull, from arriving about the same time with the fish of that name. About 

 the middle or twentieth of May this bird commences laying. The preparation of a nest, which 

 costs most other birds so much time and ingenuity, is here altogether dispensed with. The eggs, 

 generally three in number, are placed on the surface of the dry drift-grass, on the beach or salt 

 marsh, and covered by the female only during the night, or in wet, raw, or stormy weather. At 

 all other times the hatching of them is left to the heat of the sun. These eggs measure an inch 

 and three quarters in length by about an inch and two tenths in width, and are of a yellowish 

 dun-colour, sprinkled with dark brown and pale indian ink. Notwithstanding they seem thus 

 negligently abandoned during the day, it is very different in reality. One or both of the parents 

 are generally fishing within view of the place, and, on the near approach of any person, instantly 

 make their appearance over head, uttering a hoarse jarring kind of cry, and flying about with 

 evident symptoms of great anxiety aud consternation. The young are generally produced at 

 intervals of a day or so from each other, and are regularly and abundantly fed for several weeks, 

 before their wings are sufficiently grown to enable them to fly. At first the parents alight with 



