LEAST TERN. 121 



nests, composed of short fragments of dry moss, well matted together, and 

 nearly of the size of that of the American Robin, Turdus migratorius; 

 while those met with on the islands near the Bay of Galveston, were 

 observed to have laid their eggs upon the dry drifted weeds which appeared 

 to have been gathered by them for the purpose. The nests are generally 

 placed out of reach of the tides, but on some occasions I have known the 

 hopes of a whole colony destroyed by the sudden overflow of their selected 

 places caused by a severe gale, and have observed that, on such occasions, 

 their clamour was as great as if they had been robbed of their eggs by man. 



The number of eggs deposited by this species is more frequently three 

 than four. Like those of most other Terns, they differ somewhat in size 

 and markings, although I never found any so large as those described by 

 Wilson, who states that they measure nearly an inch and three quarters in 

 length, which would better agree with the eggs of the Common Tern. The 

 average of a basketful was found to be one inch and two and a half eighths 

 in length, by seven and a half eighths in breadth. They are rather pointed 

 at the smaller end, and their ground colour is pale yellowish-white, blotched 

 with irregular dark brown spots, intermixed with others of a dull purplish 

 tint. 



I have found this Tern breeding among Shearwaters along the Florida 

 coast; and my friend the Reverend John Bachman has observed the same 

 circumstance on the "Bird's Banks," on the coasts of South Carolina, where 

 it is abundant, as well as on Sullivan Island. 



The common note of our Least Tern resembles that of the Barn Swallow 

 when disturbed about its nest, being as smartly and rapidly repeated at 

 times. When it proves convenient for it to alight on the ground or on a 

 sand-beach, after it has secured a prawn or small fish, it does so, and there 

 devours its prey piecemeal, but it more usually swallows it on wing. On 

 the ground it walks prettily, with short steps, keeping its tail somewhat 

 raised. 



Least Tern, Sterna minuta, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. vii. p. 80. 

 Sterna minuta, Bonap. Syn., p. 355. 

 Silvery Tern, Sterna argentea, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 280. 

 Least Tern, Sterna minuta, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 175. 



Adult, 8|, 18f. 



Breeds from Galveston along the shores to Labrador. Not mentioned as 

 found in the Fur Countries. Returns southward, and passes beyond Texas 

 in autumn. Extremely abundant at times on the Great Lakes, as well as 

 the Ohio and Mississippi. 



Adult Male. 



Vol. VII. IS 



