BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
21 
Sterna paradissea Brunn. 
Arctic Tern. 
Description. 
“ Adult. —Upper part of the head and hind neck black; back and wings light 
grayish-blue; first primary deep-black on the outer web, dusky-gray on the inner 
next the shaft, and over the entire web at the end, inner margin of inner web white; 
the next five primaries are bluish-gray on the outer web and on the inner web next 
the shaft, this color extending over the entire web at the end, where it is blackish- 
gray on the inner margin, the remaining part of inner web white ; central tail feath¬ 
ers and inner webs of the others white, the outer web of the outer tail feather black¬ 
ish-gray, the outer webs of the two next pale bluish-gray ; rump, sides of the head, 
and under tail coverts, white; under plumage bluish-gray, of a lighter shade than 
the back ; bill deep carmine; iris, brown ; legs and feet dark crimson. Length, 
14| ; wing, 10| ; tail, 6^ ; bill, 1£; tarsus, §.”— B. B. of N. A. 
Habitat .—Northern Hemisphere ; in North America breeding from Massachu¬ 
setts to the Arctic regions, and wintering southward to Virginia and California. 
The Arctic Tern, is a very rare straggler in eastern Pennsylvania. 
About four years ago I was shown two of these birds by Mr. C. 1). 
Wood, of Philadelphia, which he said had been shot in September on 
the Delaware river below Philadelphia. Dr. John W. Detwiller, of Beth¬ 
lehem, has in his collection a specimen of this Tem, captured by him¬ 
self on the Lehigh river in the fall. In Berks county, according to Mr. 
D. Frank Keller, the Arctic Tern is an accidental visitor. I have never 
seen the Arctic Tem in Pennsylvania, nor am I aware that any of that 
species, other than those mentioned above, have been taken in the state. 
Sterna dougalli Montag. 
Roseate Tern. 
Description. 
“Adult .—Upper part of head and long occipital feathers deep black ; hind neck 
white; back and wings pale bluish-gray ; first primary blackish-gray on the outer 
web and on the inner next the shaft; the other primaries bluish-gray, the second 
and third dusky-gray near the shaft; all the primaries white on the inner part of 
their inner webs ; secondaries and tertiaries edged with white ; tail very light pearl- 
gray ; entire under plumage white, with a beautiful roseate tinge; bill brownish- 
black, orange at base ; iris brown ; legs and feet vermillion. Length, 16 inches ; 
wing, 9§; (extent about 30) ; tail, 8 ; bill, l^.”— B. B. of N. A. 
Habitat. —Temperate and tropical regions ; north on the Atlantic coast of North 
America to Massachusetts, and casually to Maine. 
Very rare or accidental visitor. I have never seen the Boseate Tern 
in this state, but give it in this report on the authority of Dr. L. D. 
Balliet, of DuBois, who writes me he has observed it as a straggler in 
Clearfield county, Penna. 
Note.—L i the first edition of the “ Birds of Pennsylvania ,” page 232, 
mention was made of the capture of specimens of Boseate Terns on the 
Schuylkill and Delaware rivers in the neighborhood of Philadelphia. 
In making this statement I was in error, as I have subsequently learned 
the “ specimens ” referred to were not taken in Pennsylvania. 
