Laeids:. BIRDS. LAEiDai. 
the young come straggling back, though they are not 
numerous until the autumn has fairly set in.” 
“ Wliile in North Carolina I made some observations 
on the vernal migration of tliese birds that I thought 
interesting. There these birds are simply birds of 
passage, none wintering nor breeding. They appear 
early in April, or with the first genial weather, and 
may be seen through part or most of May. Then 
they go off, to return in September, and stay a month 
or so. But in spring it was a succession of birds 
passing, rather than the same individuals remaining 
so long. These birds seem to feed on insects which 
they catch on wing, much as the Swallows do. 'they 
also feed on shrimps and small fishes. Their flight 
is light, elevated and rapid, says Audubon, resem- 
bling in buoyancy that of some of our Terns, more 
than most of our Gulls, which move their wings more 
sedately. I found the adult Gulls in molts in Au- 
gust. Although their notes are different from those 
of all our other species, being shriller and more fre- 
quent, I am unable to represent them by words.” 
WEDGE-TAIL GDLl [Rhodostethia rosea) inhabits 
the Arctic regions, but has no record in the United 
States. Its dimensions are : Length, fourteen inches ; 
wing, ten and a half; tail, five and a half. 
FOEKED-TAIL GULL [Xema sabinei). — -This Gull 
is found in the Arctic regions of both hemispheres ; 
south in winter to the Middle States (N. Y.) and 
the Great Salt Lake. Its length is thirteen and 
three quarters inches ; wing, ten and three-quarters. 
SWALLOW-TAILED GULL {Xema farcatum ). — 
This is found on the coast of California, and in the 
Arctic regions (?). 
GULL-BILLED, OR MARSH TERN [Sterna angliea) 
is an inhabitant of the Eastern States, though not 
abundant. It is also common to Europe. Coues 
describes it in Proc. Phil. Acad., 1862, as Gelochel- 
idon. Its length is thirteen to fifteen inches. Ex- 
tent of wing about thirty-four inches. The bill and 
feet are black, the former remarkably stout and obtuse. 
CASPIAN TERN [Sterna caspia). — This is known to 
the Arctic regions of both continents. It reaches the 
Middle States in winter. It is regarded as much the 
largest of the Terns, being over twenty inches in length. 
The bill is conspicuous for its bright red color. 
ROYAL TERN [Sterna regia). — V\\\s bird is common 
along the Atlantic Coast, and quite abundant farther 
south. It is nearly the same in length as the pre- 
ceding; tail, deeply forked ; bill, orange-colored. 
PIKE’S TEEN [Sterna longipennis). — Common to 
the Pacific Coast of North America. Mr. G. N. 
Lawrence described it as S. pikei, in Ann. Lyceum 
Nat. Hist., N.Y., 1853. Its bill is black, and plum- 
age resembles that of S. hirundo. 
LEAST TERN [Sterna super ciliarii). — Noted for 
its extremely small size, being only eight to nine 
inches long. It Inhabits the United States and the 
coast northward. Abundant chiefly on the coast. 
THE ELEGANT TERN [Sterna galericulata) is 
found in Middle and South America, up the Pacific 
Coast to Peru, to California and 'rehuan tepee, 
and in Brazil. It is not observed on the Atlantic 
Coast of the United States. 
cevii 
SANDWICH TERN [Sterna cantiaca). — 'I’his fi’ern 
is found on the Atlantic Coast to Southern New 
England, the Bahamas and Cuba, Jamaica, ranging 
into Central America, on both coasts, and south as 
far as Brazil. It breeds in Honduras. 'I’he wreckers 
say that the eggs of this species are good for food, 
and that the birds remain through all seasons near 
the breeding-places on the keys. The adult Sand- 
wich Tern is twelve and three-quarters inches in 
length, and thirty-three and three-quarters in extent 
of wing. The bill is black, except the tip, which is 
yellow ; inside the mouth is deep blue. 
TRUDEAU’S TERN [Sterna trtideatci). — According 
to Audubon this bird is found on the Atlantic Coast 
of the United States, having been procured at Great 
Egg Harbor, New Jersey, by Mr. Trudeau, for whom it 
was named. It is also found in South America, as 
far south as Chili and Brazil. The bill is noticeably 
stout for its length, and especially deep at the base ; the 
culmen is regularly curved. 'I’he outline of the rami is 
a little concave ; that of the gonys, straight and as- 
cending. 'J’he wing is 10.25; tail, 6.50; depth of 
fork, 2.75; bill along the culmen, 1.50; its depth at 
base, 0.38 ; length of gony, 1.75 ; tarsus, 1.70. Mid- 
dle toe and claw, 1.05. 
FORSTER’S TERN [Sterna forsteri). — This Tern is 
found in every part of North America. It is also 
found in South America, but breeds in high latitudes. 
COMMON TERN [Sterna hirundo). — This is the 
most common species, and is found in Europe and 
North America generally, except on the Pacific side. 
It winters in the United States north to 57°, and 
passes beyond 'I'exas. Audubon gives a cheerful 
accoun-t of this beautiful bird. “With an easy and 
buoyant flight, the 'J'ern visits the whole of our in- 
dented coast, with the intention of procuring its food, 
or of rearing its young amidst all the comforts and 
requirements that a kind Nature has provided for it. 
Pull of agreeable sensations, the mated pair glide 
along, side by side, as gayly as ever glided bridegroom 
and bride. The air is warm, the sky of the purest 
azure, and in every nook the glittering fry tenqits 
them to satiate their appetite. Here, dancing in 
the sunshine, with noisy mirth, the vast congregation 
spreads over the sandy shores, where, from imme- 
morial time, the species has taken up its temporary 
abode. They all alight, and with minced steps, and 
tails carefully raised, so as not to be injured by the 
sand, the diflerent pairs move about, renew their 
caresses, and scoop out a little cavity in the soil. If 
you come again in a few days, you will find the place 
covered with eggs. 'I'here they lie, three in each 
hollow, beautifully spotted and pointed; and as they 
receive heat enough from the sun, the birds have left 
them until evening. But not absent are they from the 
cherished spot, for they have seen you, and now all 
fly up screaming. Although unable to drive you 
away, they seem most anxiously to urge your de- 
parture by every entreaty they can devise, just as 
you would do were your family endangered by some 
creature much stronger.” 'I’he length of the Com- 
mon Tern to the end of the tail is twelve and three- 
quarters inches ; to the fork, eleven inches ; to the 
