LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAS' GULLS AND TERNS. 253 



throat, which varies from " dusky drab " to nearly black. The 

 breast is pure white, becoming more grayish posteriorly. The upper 

 parts show at least two distinct color phases, both of which are 

 sometimes found in one brood. In the brown phase the head, back, 

 and wings vary from " cinnamon " to " pinkish buff." In the gray 

 phase these parts are " pale drab gray " or " pale smoke gray," shad- 

 ing off gradually into the white or paler color of the under parts. In 

 both phases the head is distinctly spotted and the back is heavily 

 mottled or variegated with "fuscous" or black; the markings are 

 usually blacker in the brown phase than in the gray. The plumage 

 appears first on the wings and scapulars, then on the sides of the 

 breast, and the last of the down is seen on the head. 

 . The juvenal plumage is fully acquired by the time the young bird 

 is fully grown. In this plumage the forehead and crown are grayish, 

 the latter mottled with black, which increases on the auriculars and 

 occiput to practically solid black. The back and wings are " deep 

 gull gray," each feather of the back, scapulars, and wing-coverts 

 being edged with pale buffy, with a subterminal dusky band and 

 fine dusky sprinkling ; these markings are most conspicuous on the 

 scapulars. The tertials, secondaries, and inner primaries are 

 broadly edged with white. There is considerable dusky and some 

 pale buff near the ends of the tail feathers. The under parts are 

 white, washed with pale brownish tints on the throat, breast, and 

 sides. This plumage seems to be worn until the birds leave in 

 September, but it is probably partially molted in the fall to produce 

 the first winter plumage, which is similar to the adult. Subsequent 

 molts and plumages are apparently similar to those of the common 

 tern, including the portlandica plumage.] 



Food. — The food of the arctic tern is the same as that of the other 

 terns found in the same region, and consists chiefly of small fish, 

 such as capelins, and sand eels or sand launces, and the fry of 

 larger fish. Small crustaceans are also eaten. The method of cap- 

 ture is the same as in the case of the other terns. Scanning the 

 water with down-turned head and bill from a height of 30 or 40 

 feet, this little tern falls with the speed of an arrow, strikes the 

 water with a splash, and often disappears completely below the sur- 

 face in order to capture its prey. As it rises from the water it 

 shakes its plumage vigorously, and the fish may be seen hanging 

 ,from the bill. Occasionally it throws the fish into the air either 

 for pure fun or to get a better hold. Sometimes the tern drops the 

 fish but catches it aigain before it has fallen more than a yard or 

 two. The presence of the fish in the bill never interferes with the 

 capacity of the bird to scream or cry out. In fact the fish bearer 

 generally screams constantly as if to announce its success in the 

 chase. 



