The Caspian Tern 



in the middle of which were two small islands. A gunshot caused at least 

 one hundred of these gulls to rise like a white cloud over the islet, and 

 showed us that we had found a breeding place. As we stood on the shore 

 a few birds came off, and circling close about us for a few moments, but 

 rarely making any outcry, returned to the island, where the others had 

 already settled again and appeared to be sitting upon the ground. The 

 water of the lake we found to be about waist-deep, under which lay a 

 solid bed of ice of unknown depth. 



"The smallest island lay nearest, and sending one of my men out 

 to it he found a set of two eggs of the Black-throated Loon, one set of 

 the Arctic Tern's eggs, and two of Sabine's Gull. Proceeding to the next 

 island he found a set of Aythya marila nearctica eggs as he stepped ashore, 

 and a moment later cried out that the ground was covered with gulls' 

 eggs. At the same time he answered with chattering teeth that the 

 water in the lake was very cold. Having never seen the nest of this gull 

 I called my man back and he transported me upon his back to the island 

 after narrowly escaping several falls on the way. The island was very 

 low, and the driest spots were but little above the water. Built upon 

 the driest places were twenty-seven nests, containing from one to three 

 eggs each, and as many others just ready for occupancy. 



"While I was securing my prizes the birds hovered overhead in great 

 anxiety, although they rarely uttered their grating cry, and in the very 

 few instances when a bird darted down at us it was in perfect silence. 

 While we were on the island several Glaucous Gulls and Jaegers passed 

 by, and in every case they were attacked by several of the Xemas and 

 driven hastily away." 1 



No. 283 



Caspian Tern 



A. 0. U. No. 64. Hydroprogne caspia (Pallas). 



Description. — Adult in spring: Top of head and nape uniform lustrous black; 

 upperparts pearl-gray, whitening somewhat on rump and posteriorly; wing-quills not 

 especially different, the silvery gray nearly concealing dusky on exposed portions; 

 inner webs plain grayish dusky; tail slightly forked for about one-fifth of its length, — 

 folded wings considerably exceeding; remaining plumage white. Bill very stout, — the 

 depth at base being nearly equal to one-third the length of culmen, — bright coral-red, 



'"Nat. Hist. Coll. in Alaska," E. W. Nelson, pp. 57-58. 



H35 



