COMMON TERN. 
259 
and instantaneously secure their prey, rise as quickly, and dash into another 
spot hard by, whenever food happens to be abundant. 
I have many times seen the Common Tern suddenly fly up and come 
close over a man or a dog, without the least apparent provocation, indeed 
when far distant from its nest, and then pass and repass repeatedly within 
a few -yards, emitting a plaintive cry, as if its eggs or young were in the 
immediate vicinity. At other times, when the birds were yet distant from 
their young, and carrying fish in their bills, they would, on seeing a man, 
round to, drop their food, and perform the same evolutions. I, however, 
know nothing more remarkable of this species of Tern, than that it should 
breed, as I know from personal observation to be the case, along the whole 
of our Atlantic coast, in suitable places, from Texas to Labrador. 
When travelling in stormy weather, they skim over the surface of the 
water, moving rapidly and close together ; whereas in fine weather, they rise 
high, and proceed in a straggling manner. Now and then I have seen them 
alight among Tringas of different species, as well as among Razor-billed 
Shearwaters, on outward sand beaches. 
Great Tern, Sterna Hirundo , Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. viii. p. 76. 
Sterna Hirundo, Bonap. Syn., p. 354. 
Sterna Hirundo, Great Tern , Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii. p. 412. 
Great or Common Tern, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 271. 
Common Tern, Sterna Hirundo , Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 74. 
Male, 16, 314. 
Breeds from Galveston Island along the shores of the Atlantic to Labra- 
dor, and as far north as lat. 57°. Returns southward in autumn, passing 
beyond Texas. Extremely abundant. 
Adult Male. 
Bill about the same length as the head, rather slender, compressed, nearly 
straight, tapering to a narrow point. Upper mandible with the dorsal line 
slightly arched, the ridge rather broad and convex at the base, narrow 
towards the end, the sides sloping, convex towards the end, the edges sharp 
and inflected, the tip very slender. Nasal groove rather long, and with a 
faint groove and ridge extending obliquely to the edge of the mandible ; 
nostrils sub-basal, linear, direct, pervious. Lower mandible with the angle 
very narrow, extending beyond the middle, the dorsal line straight, the 
sides ascending and convex, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip very acute. 
Head of moderate size, oblong ; neck of moderate length ; body very 
slender. Feet very small ; tibia bare for a considerable space ; tarsus very 
short, slender, compressed, covered anteriorly with twenty-two small scutella, 
laterally and behind with reticular scales ; toes very small, slender, the first 
