202 BULLETIN 113, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



that it destroys the eggs of other birds seem to have no foundation 

 in fact. Audubon (1840) says that he has seen "this species mas- 

 tered and driven from its feeding grounds by the kingbirds and the 

 martins," which would seem to indicate that it is a gentle bird and 

 far from quarrelsome. 



Winter. — The winter home of the gull-billed tern is far beyond 

 our borders in southern Mexico and South America. Very little 

 seems to be known, or to have been published, regarding its winter 

 habits. , , 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Breeding range. — The American form breeds on the Atlantic and 

 Gulf coasts, formerly from New Jersey, now from Virginia (Norths 

 ampton County) southward to southern Texas (Nueces and Cameron 

 Counties) and Mexico (Tamaulipas). On the Bahama Islands 

 (Andros, Eleuthera, Inagua, Long Island, etc.) and Cuba. Closely 

 allied forms breed in other parts of the world, making the speeies 

 cosmopolitan. * ' ■ 



Winter range. — Mainly in South America, southern Brazil, Argen- 

 tina, Patagonia, and Chile. A few winter as far north as Guatemala 

 (Chiapam), Mexico (Tehuantepec) and even Texas and Louisiana. 



Spring migration. — Early dates of arrival : Bahama Islands, May 

 5; Bermuda, April 29; Virginia, Cobb's Island, May 10. 



Fall migration. — Southward along both coasts of South America, 

 arriving in Argentina, September 18, and Ecuador in September. 

 Recorded at Barbados, October 7." 



Casual records. — Stragglers have been taken at various points 

 along the coast as far east as New Brunswick (Grand Manan, Au- 

 gust, 1879). 



Egg dates. — Virginia: Forty records, June 2 to July 8; twenty 

 records, June 12 to 26. Texas : Nineteen records, May 3 to June 10; 

 ten records, May 6 to 28. 



STERNA CASPIA Pallas. 



CASPIAN TE2N. 



HABITS. 



Among the vast hordes of sea birds nesting in the great colonies 

 of the southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts, this king of all the terns 

 may be seen climbing into the air on its long, strong wings, its big 

 red bill wide open, yelling out its loud raucous cry of defiance. As 

 the dominant, ruling spirit in the colonies it scorns the companion- 

 ship of humbler fowl, holds itself aloof, and lives a little apart from 

 the Others. The largest, the strongest and the fiercest of the terns, it 



