2.72 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



[NO. 27. 



of specimens from Fort Resolution, Fort Rae, and Big Island ; " 

 skins from these localities are still in the collection. 



Sterna liirundo Linn. Connnon Tern. 



This widely distributed tern breeds in suitable places throughout 

 the region. It is rather rare north of Great Slave Lake, being 

 largely replaced by the Arctic tern, but occurs with that species in 

 some localities. 



In 1901 this species was first seen at the delta of the Athabaska 

 the date of our arrival, May 17, when a number were observed. It 

 was common at the mouth of the Quatre Fourches, near Fort Chipe- 

 wyan. May 23, and a few were seen near the outlet of Athabaska 

 Lake, June 2. 



In 1903 we noted it at the delta of the Athabaska, June 2, and 

 saw a few on Rocher River, June 6. Alfred E. Preble and Merritt 

 Gary observed two near Hay River, Great Slave Lake, June 27, and 

 on their return trip observed a fcAv in company with Arctic terns at 

 the mouth of the Athabaska, August 5. I saw a few, associated with 

 Arctic terns, among the islands of the Northern Arm, July 24 and 2G. 



Ross recorded the common tern as being very rare on Great Bear 

 and Great Slave lakes, and as having been collected at Fort Simpson.^ 

 Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway record specimens from Fort Rae, Big 

 Island, and the Arctic coast below Anderson River.'' 



Sterna paradisaea Briinn. Arctic Tern. 



This tern is a common breeder in suitable places from lower Slave 

 River northward, replacing the common tern to a great extent north 

 of Great Slave Lake. 



In 1901 we first observed this bird 50 miles below Fort Smith, 

 June 30, when a number of individuals were seen flying over the 

 river, and one was collected. During the next three days we noted 

 the species frequently between that point and Great Slave Lake, and 

 found it breeding on some low sandy islands in the lower part of the 

 river, July 3. While crossing Great Slave Lake we found it common 

 among the islands. On Loon Island, 50 miles north of Fort Reso- 

 lution, where w^e were detained by wind, July 11 to 14, about 50 pairs 

 were nesting. At this time most of the eggs were hatched, but the 

 colony raised very few young. Many were killed by the cold storm 

 which kept us from leaving the island, and the jaegers and gulls 

 were frequently seen to swoop down and snatch a young one. A num- 

 ber of the birds, including a young one a few days old which I 

 picked up dead, were preserved. 



« Water Birds N. A., II, p. 283, 1884. 



^>Nat. Hist. Rev., II (second ser.), p. 289, 1862. 



^ Water Birds N, A., II, p. 297, 1884. 



