THALASSEUS CASPIUS. 
CASPIAN TERN. 
STERNA CASPIA. Pall. Nov. Com. Petr., Yol. XIY, p. 582. Ib. Lawr., B. of N. Amer., p. 859. 
THALASSEUS CASPIUS. Boie. Isis., (1822), p. 563. Id. Goues. Proc. Acad. Nat. Scien., (1862), p. 537. 
This magnificent Tern is the largest known either in this country or in Europe. I can perceive no differences between specimens 
obtained here and in the Old World, sufficient in mv opinion to separate them into two species, for, in color of plumage they are exactly 
alike, and a slight difference in size can hardly be considered a sufficient reason to separate them, since those examples obtained here 
constantly differ in their measurements from each other. The Caspian Tern seems to be a visitant of many portions of the world, as it is 
found, not only on this continent and in Europe, but also in India, Africa, and Australia. The following account I transcribe from Gould's 
< Birds of Australia/ than which, no more important work has ever been published on Ornithology. “ Its favorite breeding-places are the 
promontories of small islands, spits of laud running out from the shores of the mainland, extensive flats at the entrance of large 
rivers, and all similar situations. I never observed it breeding in company, and seldom met with more than a pair on an island, 
unless it was of considerable extent. It lays two eggs on the bare ground, often within a very short distance of the water's edge. 
No bird watches its eggs with greater assiduity, or defends them with greater courage ; and woe betides the unlucky Gull or other 
natural enemy that may wander within the precincts of its breeding-place. 1 could always discover its eggs by the clamorous, 
cackling, screeching note, which it constantly utters while flying over the place where they were deposited. The breeding-season 
comprises the months of August, September, and October, during which period the crown of the head is of a deep black hue, which 
gives place to a spotted appearance at other seasons. Both sexes are subject to precisely the same changes, and so much are they 
alike, that it is only by the somewhat smaller size of the female that they can be distinguished. The extensive development of the 
wings gives this fine species immense powers of flight ; it also plunges into the water with the greatest impetuosity, and brings from 
beneath the surface fishes of a very considerable size. The eggs arc of a stone-color, marked all over with large and small blotches 
of umber-brown, a great portion of which appear as if beneath the surface of the shell ; they are about two inches and five eighths 
long by one inch and three quarters broad. 
On this continent the Caspian Tern is found during the summer in the Fur Countries, Hudson’s Bay, and Labrador, coming south 
during the winter along the Atlantic coast, sometimes as far as New Jersey. 
The following interesting account of this species I extract from “ Meyer’s British Birds ” : “ The sea and salt-water lakes are at all 
times preferred by the Caspian Tern where the w-ater is clear and open ; but either in deep or shallow water, on a rocky coast, or a flat, 
sandy shore, this bird equally finds its home for the time of its residence. When disturbed, the Caspian Tern flies invariably towards the 
open sea and disappears, but never seeks its safety by resorting to the sand, and its appearance on fresh-water lakes or rivers is 
consequently very rare. The food of the Caspian Tern consists chiefly in lire fish of the species Clupea, its manner of taking which, is 
by flying at a little elevation over the water, and hovering from time to time, in the manner of the Kestrel hawk, in order to watch its 
prey the better ; when it has marked its fish, the bird pounces down and catches it in an instant, and swallows it whole ; the large 
beak, and consequently wide gape, make the ingress of a good-sized herring an easy matter. It is said that this species dives after its 
prey, but from our own information on the subject, we are enabled to say that it mostly watches for fish that swim near the surface 
of the water, and which, consequently, it very easily obtains by dipping its beak and head only in the liquid element. The fish which 
the present species takes are always of a size which it can swallow entire ; and as soon as it has obtained the fish, the bird pinches it 
apparently, and turns it in its beak so as to be able to swallow it head foremost — an act which occupies very little time. Besides fish, 
the young of other birds are also frequently consumed by the present species, the remains of which have been found m its stomach. 
The nest is only a hollow scratched in the sandy ground, in which the eggs are deposited, being two or three in number ; and the young 
are hatched in about twenty days. The nestlings are at first covered with a white down, spotted with dull grey marks; they soon run 
about, and are brought up by the parent birds with small fishes. Although the birds use great exertions to prevent an intiudei fiom 
approaching the nest and eggs, by flying over his head and making a considerable noise, yet it has been remarked, that when they 
are once disturbed, they do not easily return to their nest, and are said even not to revisit the same spot the following jeai if they aie 
fired at.” 
The adult Caspian Tern has the upper part of the head and occiput, black. Wings and back, bluish- white. Primaries, dark grey 
on their inner v'ebs ; shafts, white. Tail, greyish white. Entire under parts, pure white. Bill, V ermillion. Legs and feet, black. 
The figures are life-size. 
