14 
THE BIRDS OF WISCONSIN 
birds were shot by L. Kumlien at Black Hawk Island, Lake 
Koshkonong, among a large colony of black terns. Another 
specimen is, or was, preserved in a store in Janesville, said to 
have been shot on Rock River near that city. There is also 
one Milwaukee record of which we are sure, but we are unable 
to find the date. Rev. A. Constantine Barry, in his list of 1854, 
says: "Not so common as the black tern and probably does 
not breed in the state." Not included in Hoy's list of 1852. 
Hydrochelidon nigra Surinam ens is (Gmcl.). BLACK TERN. 
A very common summer resident in all the inland ponds, 
sloughs, wet marshes and lakes, but seldom found on Lake 
Michigan, and probably only during migrations. Arrives in 
Wisconsin, of an average year, the first few days of May — dates 
of arrival for a number of years at Lake Koshkonong range 
from April 1(> to May 11 — and departs early, few being seen 
after the middle of September. When they arrive in the spring 
all are in the black, full breeding plumage; and all are in the 
white winter plumage before they leave; in fact, a great many 
begin to assume their winter plumage before they are through 
nesting. Not as plenty as formerly, still their numbers have 
not decreased anything like those of the common or Forster's 
Tern. 
Hydrochelidon lencoptera (Meisn. and Bchinz). WHITE- WINGED 
BLACK TERN. 
The only known instance of the occurrence of this species 
on the western continent is that of a breeding female shot by 
L. Kumlien in a large marsh near Black Hawk Island, Lake 
Koshkonong, July 5, 1873. The specimen was sent freshly 
skinned to Dr. Brewer and was presented by him to the 
National Museum. The partially denuded abdomen and well 
formed ova prove that it would have bred — whether with its 
own kind or with the common species we know not, as no 
others were seen at the time nor since, although days have been 
spent in the tern colonies for almost no other purpose than the 
vain hope of seeing more of them. The bird was quite notice- 
able among the enormous numbers of black terns — so much so 
that there is no special need for any one to sacrifice the life of 
any of the common species under the delusion that it ma\ 
prove to be leucoptera when in hand. 
