18 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA 
often hover over the water, when feeding, in the same manner as the Sparrow Hawk 
does when hunting in a grass-field, and dart head foremost into it, oftentimes with 
such force as to submerge the whole body; unlike the hawk, however, which 
seizes his prey in his talons, the Tern captures its prey in its bill. Their notes are 
sharp, shrill and often repeated ; they are particularly noisy when wounded or if their 
breeding-places are approached. The eggs, two or three in number, are generally 
deposited in a slight depression in the sand or shingle along the sea-beach ; some 
few nest on drift-stuff, sea-weeds, grasses, etc., in marshes, and others, it is stated, 
construct rude and rather bulky nests of sticks on trees or in low, thick bushes. 
Terns are of a gregarious nature ; they frequently nest in great numbers in suitable 
localities, and when migrating they often assemble in large flocks. Great numbers 
of these birds, and many of the smaller kinds of Gulls, are annually slaughtered 
along the Atlantic coast by heartless and greedy “feather hunters” to supply the 
millinery establishments of our large cities. 
Genus GELOCHELIDON Brehm. 
Gelochelidon nilotica (Hasselq.). 
Gull-billed Tern ; Marsh Tern. 
) 
Description. 
Adult. —Bill short, stout and resembles somewhat that of a gull ; top of head 
black, which runs downward on sides to lower eyelid ; a very narrow line of white 
at base of upper mandible; back and wings pearly bluish-gray; tail feathers very 
similar to back, but lighter ; lower part of back of neck and entire under plumage 
pure white ; bill and tarsi black ; iris dark brown. Length about 14 inches ; extent 
about 34 inches. 
The young have brownish-colored bills and legs, top of head largely white ; upper 
parts more or less spotted with brown. 
Habitac. —Nearly cosmopolitan ; in North America chiefly along the Atlantic and 
Gulf coasts of the United States. 
This species is a very rare and irregular visitor in eastern Pennsyl¬ 
vania, and in the central and western portions of the state I find no one 
has noted its occurrence. Mr. H. B. Graves records the capture of one 
“in Chester county in autumn.” Mr. C. D. Wood informed me he ob¬ 
tained two specimens, which were shot near Philadelphia about five 
years ago. I have never seen this bird in Pennsylvania. 
Genus STERNA Linnaeus. 
Sterna tschegrava Lipech. 
Caspian Tern. 
Description. 
Largest of all the Terns ; bill large and stout, measuring about three inches • tail 
very slightly forked. 
“Adult. Forehead, crown, sides of the head and occiput black, glossed with 
green ; this color extends below the eye, under which is a narrow white lino ; back 
and wings light bluish-ash ; outer six primaries dark slate-gray on their inner webs • 
quill shafts strong and white; tail and its upper coverts grayish-white' neck and 
entire under plumage pure white ; bill and inside of mouth bright vermilflon ; legs 
