BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA 
23 
Habitat .—Tropical and subtropical coasts of the globe. In America from Chili to 
western Mexico and the Carolinas, and casually to New England. 
The Sooty Tern is a rather rare and irregular visitor in Pennsylvania 
during the spring and fall migrations. About five years ago two of 
these Terns were taken in Delaware county, and I have two specimens 
in mjr collection that were killed in Chester county. Dr. John W. Det- 
willer, of Bethlehem, has observed it in his locality. Dr. A. 0. Treich- 
ler mentions this bird as a straggler in the neighborhood of Elizabeth¬ 
town, Lancaster county. Specimens captured in Lycoming county, in 
the spring and fall, are in the valuable collection of my esteemed friend, 
Mr. August Koch, of Williamsport. Prof. J. K. Robertson writes me 
that the Sooty Tern is an accidental visitor in Venango county. 
Genus HYDROCHELIDON Boie. 
Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis (Gmel.). 
Black Tern ; Short-tailed Tern. 
Description. 
Adult , in spring and breeding plumage. —Head, neck and under parts black, 
darker on head and neck than on abdomen, where the color is sooty-black ; edge of 
wing and under tail coverts white ; back, wings, rump, and tail, lead color ; under 
surface of wings somewhat lighter than the upper parts; bill (dried skin) black; 
tarsi brownish-yellow ; iris brown. Length about 9 inches ; extent about 24 inches. 
Adults in winter, and young in the fall have head, neck and under parts mostly 
white. 
Habitat .—Temperate and tropical America. From Alaska and the fur countries 
to Chili, breeding from the middle United States northward. 
The Black or Short-tailed Tern is a rather irregular, though not an 
uncommon visitor during the spring and fall in different sections of 
Pennsylvania. In North America this species has quite an extended 
distribution, being found both along the sea-coasts and about marshes, 
lakes and reedy ponds in the interior. According to various writers it 
breeds more or less abundantly about marshes in Wisconsin, Minnesota, 
Michigan, Dakota, Oregon, etc. Dr. John W. Detwilier, an ornitholo¬ 
gist of over twenty-five years’ experience, residing at Bethleliam, North¬ 
ampton county, Pa., writes me, that, some years ago he “ procured eggs 
of the Black Tern upon drift-wood on Lake Erie, near Erie city.” I 
have never had an opportunity of observing these birds when breeding, 
and I am not aware that they are now known to breed anywhere in the 
neighborhood of Erie county or elsewhere in our state. The following 
remarks relative to this species in the breeding season are taken from 
Mr. F. W. Langton’s “ Summer Birds of a Northern Ohio Marsh 
“ A very common summer resident in the marsh, nesting, or rather lay¬ 
ing its eggs on the islands of decaying vegetation and mud formed by 
sunken muskrat houses. Three eggs constitute a full set, and they are 
apparently rolled about in the mud purposely, until well-coated, so as 
