STERNA ANT1LLAEUM. 
479 
white strongly tinged with rosy. Iris, brown, feet, orange, bill, black, orange atbase. In winter , and Young. Similar but 
paler, and the top of head is more or less white. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Known by the slender form, black bill, and wholly white outer tail feathers. Nestlings of this and of the three pre¬ 
ceding species are indistinguishable, being yellowish above mottled with black, and white beneath. Distributed, in sum¬ 
mer, from Massachusetts, southward. Rare as far north as Maine. Winters south of the United States. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 15'15; stretch, 28*50; wing, 9*60; tail, 6 05; bill, 
148: tarsus, *70. Longest specimen, 16*25; greatest extent of wing, 30*4' >; longest wing, 10*30; tail, 7 30; bill, 1*55; tarsus, 
*80. Shortest specimen, 14*00; smallest extent of wing, 26*60; shortest wing, 8*90; tail, 4*80; bill, 1*40; tarsus, *60. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed on the ground in sandy places, composed of sticks, sea-weeds, etc. Eggs, from three to four in number, 
oval in form, varying from white, through green, to deep brown in color, spotted and blotched irregularly with brown, um¬ 
ber, and lilac of varying shades. Dimensions from 1*05x1'40 to 1*25x1*82. 
HABITS. 
The flight of the Roseate Terns is exceedingly graceful, and I know of no finer sight 
than a group of these lovely birds, moving along over the green water, pausing now and 
then to hover for a moment, that they may peer into the depths below. Gazing upon their 
perfectly symmetrical forms and elegant evolutions, one can scarcely consider them birds, but 
rather, as beautiful Nereids of the sea, which have left their native element, to sport for a 
time in the delightful summer air. The Roseate Tern is one among our birds, that I nev¬ 
er care to shoot, for aside from a dislike to destroy a being so lovely, the delicate tints of the 
plumage are so evanescent and so easily soiled, and there is such a marked difference be¬ 
tween cabinet specimens, no matter how carefully prepared, and the living birds, that the 
contrast is absolutely painful. The notes of the Roseate Terns are quite harsh, sounding, 
when the birds are excited, like hoyet , hoyet , ending with a kind of prolonged cry. They 
lay about the same time as the other Terns, and their principal breeding ground on our 
coast is on Muskeget, a small, sandy island with a slightly rolling surface, on which noth¬ 
ing larger in the way of vegetation grows, than a few dwarf plum bushes. In the hol¬ 
lows, however, is a somewhat luxuriant crop of ivy and beach grass, among which the Ro¬ 
seate Terns build their nests of sticks. They are very solicitous for the safety of their 
young and in general habits resemble the preceding species. 
STERNA ANTILLARUM. 
Least Tern. 
Sterna anlillarum Less., Des. Mam. et Ois; 1848, 256. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Ch. Form, slender. Size, very small. Bill, long and slender. Color. Adult. Above, light pearly blue with 
two or three first primaries sooty-black, white on inner webs of inner. Outer webs of outer tail feather, white, Crown 
and occiput, deep black. Lunate spot on forehead and under parts, white. Bill, yellow, with terminal fourth, black, 
iris, brown, and feet, yellow. Winter adult and Young. Similar but white of forehead more extended. Bill, black. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Known by the small size and white lunet on the forehead. Distributed, in summer, from Massachusetts, southward. 
"Winters south of the United States. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 8*88; stretch, 19*40; wing, 6*65, tail, ‘2*95; bill, 
I’ll; tarsus, *70. Longest specimen, 9*25; greatest extent of wing, 19*75, longest wing, 7*00; tail, 3*15: bill, 1*16-. tarsus, *75. 
Shortest specimen, 8*50; smallest extent of wing, 19*00; shortest wing, 6*30; tail, 2*75; bill, 1*06; tarsus, *65. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Eggs, placed on the ground in sandy places, three or four in number, rather oval in form, varying from white to bull 
in color, spotted and blotched irregularly with brown, umber, and lilac of varying shades, and having an occasional tinge 
of yellowish. Dimensions from *75 x 1*00 to *90 x 1*30. 
