280 
LEAST TERN. 
nests, composed of short fragments of dry moss, well matted together, and 
nearly of the size of that of the American Robin, Turdus migratorius ; 
while those met with on the islands near the Bay of Galveston, were 
observed to have laid their eggs upon the dry drifted weeds which appeared 
to have been gathered by them for the purpose. The nests are generally 
placed out of reach of the tides, but on some -occasions I have known the 
hopes of a whole colony destroyed by the sudden overflow of their selected 
places, caused by a severe gale, and have observed that on such occasions, 
their clamour was as great as if they had been robbed of their eggs by ipan. 
The number of eggs deposited by this species is more frequently three 
than four. Like those of most other Terns, they differ somewhat in size 
and markings, although I never found any so large a& those described by 
W ilson, who states that they measure nearly an inch and three quarters in 
length, which would better agree with the eggs of the Common Tern. The 
average of a basketful was found to be one inch and two and a half eighths 
in length, by seven and a half eighths in breadth. They are rather pointed 
at the smaller end, and their ground colour is pale yellowish-white, blotched 
with irregular dark brown spots, intermixed with others of a dull purplish 
tint. 
I have found this Tern breeding among Shearwaters along the Florida 
coast ; and my friend the Reverend John Bachman has observed the same 
circumstance on the “ Bird’s Banks,” on the coasts of South Carolina, where 
it is abundant, as well as on Sullivan Island. 
The common note of our Least Tern resembles that of the Barn Swallow 
when disturbed about its nest, being as smartly and rapidly repeated at 
times. When it proves convenient for it to alight on the ground or on a 
sand-beach, after it has secured a prawn or small fish, it does so, and there 
devours its prey piecemeal, but it more usually swallows it on wing. On 
the ground it walks prettily, with short steps, keeping its tail somewhat 
raised. 
Least Tern, Sterna minuta, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. vii. p. 80. 
Sterna minuta, Bonap. Syn., p. 355. 
Silvery Tern, Sterna argentey, Nutt. Man. vol. ii. p. 280. 
Least Tern, Sterna minuta, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 175. 
Adult, 81, 181. 
Breeds from Galveston along the shores to Labrador. Not mentioned as 
found in the Fur Countries. Returns southward, and passes beyond Texas 
in autumn. Extremely abundant at times on the Great Lakes, as well as 
the Ohio and Mississippi. 
Adult’Male. 
