168 
TERNS 
White-throated Sparrow, and a tue, tue, tue, uttered by a bird in pur- 
suit of another. The young are fed on fish which they take from the 
bill of the parent. They promptly and instinctively squat at the parent’s 
warning note and remain motionless until touched. They enter the 
water of their own volition and swim freely, while the parents, which 
rarely swim, stand on the shore and watch them; webbed feet, therefore, 
apparently being of use to young Terns although practically function- 
less in the adult. 
Thanks to the movement for the protection of our birds, Terns, 
which fifteen years ago seemed to be doomed to extinction, are now 
increasing, and there is reason to hope that our shores may again be 
enlivened by these beautiful, graceful creatures. 
1879. Brewster, Wm., Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club. IV, 13-22 (habits). — 
1895-99. Mackay, G. H., Auk, XIII, 32-48, 178; XIV, 21, 22, 278-284, 
383-390; XVI, 168-172; XVII, 259-266 (on Muskeget and Penikese Islands, 
Mass.) — 1900. Chapman, 'F. M., Bird Studies with a Camera, 106-127. — * 
1902. Jones, L., Wilson Bull., XV, 94-100.— 1906. XVIII, 35-47 (on 
Weepeckets). 
71. Sterna paradisaea Brilnn. Arctic Tern. Very similar in color 
to the Common Tern, from which it differs in having less gray on the shaft 
part of the inner web of the outer primaries (Fig. 79, d) ; in having the tail 
somewhat longer, the tarsi and bill shorter, while the latter, in the adult, 
is generally without a black tip. L., 15*50; W., 10*25; T., 7*50; Tar., *65; 
B., 1*30. 
Range. — Nearly cosmopolitan. Breeds from n. Alaska, Melville Island, 
and n. Greenland, s. to Commander and Aleutian Islands, n. B. C., Great 
Slave Lake, cen. Keewatin, Maine, and (formerly) Mass., and in entire 
Arctic regions of Europe and Asia; winters in Antarctic Ocean, s. to lat. 
74°; in migration, Pacific coast s. to s. Calif., and Atlantic coast s. to L. jl.; 
accidental in Colo. 
Long Island, one record, July 1. 
Nest, as in preceding. Eggs, 3-4, not distinguishable with certainty from 
those of the preceding, 1*62 x 1*15. Date, Seal Is., Maine, June 17, 1875. 
Comparing the notes of this bird with those of the Common Tern, 
Mr. Brewster writes: “Their notes are similar, but several of them can 
be distinguished. The usual cry of S. macrura [ = paradiscea] cor- 
responds to the tearr of S. hirundo , but is shriller, ending in a rising 
inflection, and sounding very like the squeal of a pig. The bird also 
has a short, harsh note similar to that of Forster’s Tern. At any dis- 
tance within fair gun-range I could usually separate it from Wilson’s 
[ = Common] Tern by its longer tail, and by the uniform and deeper 
color of the bill. In flight and habits the two seemed to me identical” 
( Proc . Bost. Soc . Nat. Hist., XXII, 1883, p. 402). 
72. Sterna dongalli Montag. Roseate Tern. Ads. in summer . — - 
Top of head black; back and wings pearl-gray; outer web of outer primaries 
and shaft part of the inner web slaty black (Fig. 79, e); underparts white, 
generally delicately tinted with pinkish ; tail pure white; bill black, the base 
reddish; feet red. Ads. in winter. — Similar to the above, but front of the 
head white, more or less streaked or spotted with black; underparts pure 
white. Im ., first plumage. — “Pileum and nape pale buffy grayish finely 
mottled or sprinkled with darker, and streaked, especially on the crown, with 
