TERNS 
237 
delights to a seeker of the beautiful. Its shrill cry, harsh in itself, blends 
harmoniously with the soft surge of the surf and remains in keeping with 
marine surroundings. 
Economic Status. Though fairly numerous in suitable localities this 
species is too small to be seriously destructive. Late banding activities 
have given some interesting information on the migrational wanderings of 
this species. Birds banded at the west on the Massachusetts coast have 
been taken in the West Indies, the Guianas, the mouth of the Amazon, and 
even across the broad oceans at the mouth of the River Niger, West Africa. 
71. Arctic Tern, la sterne arctique. Sterna paradisaea. L, 15 -50 (Forking 
of tail 4-50). Closely resembling the Common and Forster’s Terns (Sec Plates XXVIII B 
and XXIX A) in size and colour. 
Distinctions. The Arctic Tern has a little deeper greyish suffusion over breast and 
underparts than the Common Tern. Bill is red to tip, and feet and legs are very small and 
weak. It is not likely to be confused with Forster’s on account of difference in range. 
In its colour characteristics it resembles the Common Tern very closely. 
Field Marks. An all red bill, and little short legs that make it look when standing as 
if crouching directly on the ground, and when walking it moves with a mouse-like glide. 
Distribution. The Arctic regions, south in the interior to the big lakes of Mackenzie 
region, southern Alaska, and Nova Scotia. It has been taken along the west coast as far 
as the Canadian line, but rarely in British Columbia waters. We have records from the 
northern interior of that pro vince, but none from anywhere east of the mountains. It is 
particularly a maritime species, rarely seen inland or on fresh water. 
The remarks made under the Common Tern will apply to this species. 
It is remarkable that it has not been observed more often in our southern 
latitudes, for the species makes one of the longest migrations known. 
Summering north as far as land occurs, it winters as far south as the Ant- 
arctic continent. How it journeys there from the northwest coast without 
being noted more often en route is one of the interesting problems of Amer- 
ican ornithology. Recent migration studies have produced interesting 
results. Birds banded on the Labrador coast have been taken on the coast 
of France and south as far as Natal, South Africa, on the Indian Ocean. 
72. Roseate Tern, la sterne ror^e. Sterna dougalli. L, about 14-5. Like the 
Common and Arctic Terns but with a black bill. 
Distinctions. Like the Common and Arctic Terns but with a very long black bill 
(1-5 or over). Pure white or rosy underparts and excessively long white streamers to 
tail (Figure 348). 
Distribution. Temperate and tropical seas of both hemispheres. In North America 
breeding up the Atlantic coast to southern Nova Scotia. 
76916—16 
