84 MARSH TERN. 



reach of any ordinary encroachment of the tides; for, as Wilson has truly 

 said, this species forms no nest. The eggs differ considerably in their mark- 

 ings. They are generally an inch and three-quarters in length, an inch and 

 half an eighth in breadth, smooth,' of a greenish or olivaceous tint, largely 

 marked with irregular splashes of dark umber, almost black, disposed around 

 the broadest part, leaving the apex with only a few small dots of the same 

 colour, similar dots being as sparingly dispersed toward the smaller end, 

 which falls off toward the extremity, and is there gently rounded. The 

 parents sit more upon them than is usual with Terns which drop their eggs 

 on the sands, and they do not leave their charge in cloudy weather. The 

 young have the bill of a dull reddish orange-brown colour, the legs and feet 

 of a less deep tint of the latter colour, which is retained by them until late 

 in the winter, when these parts become black, and so continue for life. 



The Marsh Tern does not extend its migrations eastward along our shores 

 beyond New England; which will be understood by those who know, that 

 in a continued direction the rocky shores afford them no place in which they 

 could obtain food. But, from what I know of the extraordinary power of 

 flight of this bird, I am not at all surprised at its being found in Europe, any 

 more than I should be to find it cosmopolitan. 



I here present the different measurements carefully taken from fresh birds 

 of only four pairs, all shot in spring, and in full plumage, although of 

 different ages. Wilson's measurements are as follows: "fourteen inches in 

 length, and thirty-four in extent." 



M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. 



Length to end of tail, . 13 14| 14|- 131 131. 13^ 141 14 



claws, .11 121 12 1U 12| 12§ 12 11 



wings, . 14^ 15 151 141 141 13* 15| 14| 



Extent of wings, .... 33 34^ 34l 331 34 34 35| 35 

 Tarsus, l| ' If 1 1| H 1 1| 1# 



The weight of the four male birds was 6j? oz., 5^, 6f, 7-g-. The females 

 were quite as heavy. 



Marsh Tern, Stoma aranea, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. viii. p. 143. 



Sterna aranea, Bonap. Syn., p. 354. 



Marsh Tern, Sterna anglica, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 269. 



Marsh or Gdll-eilled Tern, Sterna anglica, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 127. 



Male, 14, 34. 



Cosmopolite. In America, breeds from the mouth of the Mississippi to 

 Connecticut. Not abundant. Migratory. 

 Adult Male in summer. 

 Bill about the length of the head, rather stout, compressed, acute. Upper 



