LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS 
74. Least Tern. Sterna antillarum. 
Range. — From northern South America to 
southern New England, Dakota and California, 
breeding locally throughout its range. 
These little Sea Swallows are the smallest of 
the Terns, being but 9 inches in length. They 
have a yellow bill with a black tip, a black crown 
and nape, and white forehead. Although small, 
these little Terns lose none of the grace and beau- 
ty of action of their larger relatives. They nest 
Light buff 
in colonies on the South Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, 
placing their eggs upon the bare sand, where they 
are sometimes very difficult to see among the 
shells and pebbles. They are of a grayish or 
buffy color spotted with umber and lilac. They 
number two, three and rarely four, and are laid 
in May and June. Size 1.25 x .95. Data. — DeSota 
Beach, Fla., May 20, 1884. Three eggs laid on 
the sandy beach. Collector, Chas. Graham. 
75. Sooty Tern. Sterna fuscata. 
Range. — Tropical America, north to the South 
Atlantic States. This species measures 17 inches Least Tern 
in length; it has a brownish black mantle, wings Sooty Tern 
and tail, except the outer feathers of the latter which are white; the forehead 
and under parts are white, the crown and a line from the eye to the bill, black. 
This tropical species is very numerous at 
its breeding grounds on the small islands 
of the Florida Keys and the West Indies. 
They lay but a single egg, generally plac- 
ing it on the bare ground, or occasionally 
building a frail nest of grasses. The egg 
has a pinkish white or creamy ground 
and is beautifully sprinkled with spots of 
reddish brown and lilac. They are laid 
during May. Size 2.05 x 1.45. Data. — 
Clutheria Key, Bahamas, May 28, 1891. 
Single egg laid on bare ground near water. 
Collector, D. P. Ingraham. 
Creamy white 
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