nests, composed of short fragments of dry moss, well matted together, and
nearly of the size of that of the American Robin, Turdus migratorius;
while those met with on the islands near the Bay of Galveston, were
observed to have laid their eggs upon the dry drifted weeds which appeared
to have been gathered by them for the purpose. The nests are generally
placed out of reach of the tides, but on some occasions I have known the
hopes of a whole colony destroyed by the sudden overflow of their selected
places caused by a severe gale, and have observed that, on such occasions,
their clamour was as great as if they had been robbed of their eggs by man.
The number of eggs deposited by this species is more frequently three
than four. Like those of most other Terns, they differ somewhat in size
and markings, although I never found any so large as those described by
Wilson, who states that they measure nearly an inch and three quarters in
length, which would better agree with the eggs of the Common Tern. The
average of a basketful was found to be one inch and two and a half eighths
in length, by seven and a half eighths in breadth. They are rather pointed
at the smaller end, and their ground colour is pale yellowish-white, blotched
with irregular dark brown spots, intermixed with others of a dull purplish
tint.
I have found this Tern breeding among Shearwaters along the Florida coast; and my friend the Reverend John Bachman has observed the same circumstance on the "Bird's Banks," on the coasts of South Carolina, where it is abundant, as well as on Sullivan Island.
The common note of our Least Tern resembles that of the Barn Swallow when disturbed about its nest, being as smartly and rapidly repeated at times. When it proves convenient for it to alight on the ground or on a sand-beach, after it has secured a prawn or small fish, it does so, and there devours its prey piecemeal, but it more usually swallows it on wing. On the ground it walks prettily, with short steps, keeping its tail somewhat raised.
Least Tern, Sterna minuta, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. vii. p. 80. Sterna minuta, Bonap. Syn., p. 355.
Silvery Tern, Sterna argentea, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 280.
Least Tern, Sterna minuta, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 175. Adult, 8|, 18f.
Breeds from Galveston along the shores to Labrador. Not mentioned as found in the Fur Countries. Returns southward, and passes beyond Texas in autumn. Extremely abundant at times on the Great Lakes, as well as the Ohio and Mississippi.
Adult Male.
