BIRDS OF PORTO RICO. 47 



says that he once shot a pair on the south coast of the island in June. Bowdish 

 (1902-3, p. 357) found them common August 9 to 21, 1901, on Mona, which is 

 undoubtedly one of their breeding places. I saw one with some common terns 

 in the bay at Joyuda, near Cabo Rojo, August 28, and another with a flock of 

 laughing gulls near Rincon September 2. Two were seen at sea about 200 

 miles north of Porto Rico September 12. 



LEAST TERN. Sterna antillarum (Lesson). 

 Gaviota, Gaviota Antillana. 



Gundlach (1878, p. 412) says that the least tern was found by Blanco near 

 San Juan, and by Stahl at the mouth of the River Toa (Rio de la Plata) ; and 

 Stahl (1887, p. 453) says that they come in September. The latest record for 

 them is that of Bowdish, who (1902-3, p. 357) saw a pair off Cabo Rojo Light- 

 house August 22, 1901. 



ROSEATE TERN. Sterna dougalli Montagu. 

 Gaviota. 



On June 16 a small flock of roseate terns was seen feeding over the water 

 and then resting in a close flock on the surface, between Desecheo and Porto 

 Rico. July 8 a few were noted along the curiously eroded limestone ledges form- 

 ing the shore line north of Manati. They darted about over the bare rocks 

 above the ocean, harshly calling cack, each. One of them, a female in rather 

 worn plumage, was taken, and from their actions they were breeding, though 

 no nests were found. At Joyuda near Cabo Rojo on August 28 five or six were 

 feeding with a flock of common terns and resting with them on rocks in the 

 water. Gundlach (1874, p. 314) doubtfully records the roseate tern as seen in 

 Blanco's collection, and Cory (1892, p. 82) lists it from Porto Rico without 

 comment. If Sterna d. gracilis Gould is retained as a valid subspecies, then 

 both varieties are represented in the collection from Porto Rico, as the bill of 

 a fall bird taken at Joyuda is entirely black, while in the case of a female taken 

 near Manati on July 8 the base of the bill is slightly reddish. It is felt, how- 

 ever, that more material is needed to settle this question definitely. 



The two stomachs examined contained only fish remains. No other data con- 

 cerning their food are available. 



ARCTIC TERN. Sterna paradiswa Brunnich. 

 Gaviota., Gaviota del Paraiso. 



Gundlach (1878a, p. 163) saw the Arctic tern in the collection of Blanco, 

 taken near San Juan. According to Stahl (1883, p. 154), who had three 

 specimens in his collection, they arrive in September (1887, p. 453). There are 

 no other specimens on record. 



COMMON TERN. Sterna hirundo Linnaeus. 

 Gaviota, Palomita. 



The last of August the common tern was fairly numerous along the coast at 

 Porto Ferro and Joyuda near Cabo Rojo. This is apparently the first record 

 for Porto Rico, though the winter range of the bird is given as from Florida 

 to Brazil. 1 On August 28 these terns were following a school of mackerel that 

 was driving up and down the shallow water behind the reefs at Joyuda. The 

 birds dived down excitedly when the minnows were driven up, and when satis- 

 fied gathered in a close flock on rocks standing in the water. Two were 

 collected. 



*A. O. U. Check List North Amer. Birds, 3d ed., 1910, p. 44. 



