— 17 — 



22. Larus minutus Pall. Little GtJLL. (60.1) — This is a 

 European species ; the only satisfactory record of its occurrence 

 in North America is that of an immature bird taken on Fire Island, 

 Long Island, September 15, 1887 (Butcher, Auk, V, 1888, p. 172). 



23. Xema sabinii (Sad.). Sabine's Gull. (62.) — A circum- 



polar species, breeding in the Far North and rarely coming as 

 far south as the northern United States. Giraud records a speci- 

 men shot at Raynor South, Long Island, "July, 1837". 



24. Gelochelidon nilotica (Hasselq.). Gull-billed Tern. 

 (63. 1 — A southern species, breeding as far north as southern New 

 Jersey, and wandering occasionally to Maine. There are several 

 Long Island records, the most recent being two specimens taken 

 at South Oyster Bay, July 4, 1882 (Dutcher, Auk, I, 1884, p. 34), 

 and one shot from a flock of five on Shinnecock Bay, July 8, 1884 

 (Butcher, Auk, II, 1885, p. ^S). 



25. Sterna tschegrava Lepech. Caspian Tern. (64.)— 

 Breeds locally from Texas to Great Slave Lake. In this vicinity 

 it is found as a rather uncommon migrant. 



26. Sterna maxima Bodd. Royal Tern. (65.)— A southern 

 species, breeding as far north as Virginia, and occasionally wander- 

 ing northward to Massachusetts. There is but one known instance 

 of its occurrence on Long Island, — a specimen taken at Raynor 

 South, August 27, 1831, by J. F. Ward (Am. Mus. No. 46,008, 

 Lawrence Coll.). 



27. Sterna forsteri Nutt. Forster's Tern. (64.)— More 

 common in the interior than on the Atlantic coast, where it is not 

 known to breed north of Virginia. It Wanders irregularly north- 

 ward, and is sometimes found in this vicinity. 



28. Sterna hirundo Linn. Common Tern ; Sea Swallow. 

 (70.) — Inhabits the greater part of the Northern Hemisphere; in 

 North America breeds locally from the Arctic Regions to the Gulf 

 of Mexico. This was formerly an abundant bird along our coasts, 

 but the relentless persecutions of millinery collectors have so 

 reduced its numbers that it is now found in only a few isolated 

 localities. Not many years ago it bred more or less commonly 

 all along the Long Island coast, but almost the only surviving 

 colony (numbering about 1000 pairs) inhabits Big Gull Island. 

 Even in this remote locality it is constantly persecuted by nest- 

 robbing fishermen and self-styled oologists, who will doubtless 



