1890 
Ster na antillarum * 
June 28 Ktama , Martha * s Vineyard * 
About a dozen breeding on white sand mixed with pebbles and 
shells. They came close over me ( within 20 yds*) and dove down 
past me with set wings screaming excitedly. I noted the follow- 
4ng cries: chit, chit, chit, sometimes run more closely together 
thus chit-chit-chit-chit-chit changing to chitic, clxitic, cliitic* 
A similar btLt much more musical note was Klllie or killink a 
call merely* The other notes were given when the birds were 
hovering over me* When they were particularly excited they 
gave a rasping aik or a-ik not unlike the scaipe of Gallinago. 
When fishing this Tern hovers a-la -Oeryle much more than do the 
larger species* The breeding birds regularly chased away every 
Piping Plover that came near their nests* 
