FORSTERS TERN. 
G9. Sterna forsteri. 15 inches. 
These beautiful birds are often known as “ Sea Swallows, 
because of their similarity in flight to those well-known land 
birds. They are the picture of grace as they dart about high 
in the air, bill pointed downward, alert and ready to dart 
down upon any small fish that may take their fancy.. 
Nest. —a slight depression in the sand, rarely lined with 
grass in which are laid three, sometimes foui, eggs varying 
in color from almost white to brownish, thickly spotted with 
brown and lavender (1.80 x 1.30). 
Range._Throughout North America; breeding from Manitoba 
to the Gulf Coast. 
COMMON TERN. 
70. Sterna hirundo. 15 inches. 
This bird differs from the above in the red of the bill being 
more blackish at the tip, and the under-parts being a pearly 
or ay in place of white, tail not Quite as much foiked, and 
shorter; edge of outer primaries and outer tail-feathers 
bl&ckisli. 
N es t.—These breed much more abundantly on the Atlantic 
coast. Their eggs are more rounded (1.75x 1.40). 
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