File:Report on the birds of Pennsylvania - with special reference to the food habits, based on over four thousand stomach examinations (1890) (20668130255).jpg

Title: Report on the birds of Pennsylvania : with special reference to the food habits, based on over four thousand stomach examinations
Identifier: commercialpoultr11 (find matches)
Year: 1890 (1890s)
Authors: Warren, Benjamin Harry, 1858-
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: Harrisburg : E. K. Meyers, State Printer
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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22 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. Sterna antillarum (Ltsss.)- Least Terii. Description (Plate 5.'i). Adult, in .s^^rin^.-Length about 9 inches ; extent about 20 inches. Rill yellow, witli black tip; legs yellow, claws black ; iris brown ; a triangular white spot on forehead, extending to eye ; narrow black line extending from base of upper man- dible is continuous with the black of crown and region about back ol head ; back, wings, rump and tail light grayish-blue; two or three outer primaries black on upper surface ; narrow line about base of bill above sides of head, neck and entire under parts white, " ... , ^ i Young, in August.-BiU (dried skin) blackish-brown; lower mandible towards the base and inside of mouth yellowish-brown ; tarsi yellowisli ; iris brown ; fore- head dirty brownish-white ; crown and upper parts generally mottled with brown ; upper part of wings mostly dark slate color; primaries darker than m old bird ; under plumage w hite. ,^ , , Habitat.—Northern South America, northward to (California and New Kngland, and casually to Labrador, breeding nearly throughout its range. This handsome and graceful little bird is the smallest of the Terns. Fishermen on the coast of New Jersey, where the Least Tern is a com- mon summer resident, know it by the names of "Sea Swallow," "Little Gull " and "Striker." During- migrations, particularly in the latter part of August and September, Least Terns are not infrequently met with in Pennsylvania, especially in the southeastern section. I have seen seven of these Terns taken—one in the spring, the others in August and September—in the counties of Chester, Lancaster, Montgomery and Delaware in the past ten years. Hon. Gerard C. Brown, of Yorkana, has observed it in York county as a straggler. Dr. John W. Detwiller, of Bethlehem, shot one on the Lehigh river, in the fall, and in Berks county Mr. D. Frank Keller says it is an accidental visitor. According to Prof. J. R. Robertson, of Franklin, a straggler was once taken in Ven- ango county- In the summer of 1883, at Brigantine, New Jersey, where the Least Terns were then breeding in considerable^ numbers, laying their eggs in slight depressions in the dry sand and among the shells on the sandhills along the beach, I obtained the bodies of over seventy- five of these Terns from two taxidermists who were collecting the skins for New York and Philadelphia dealers to be used for ladies' hats. An examination of these birds—all killed in one day—showed that they had fed almost exclusively on little fish; not more than four or five had any traces of insects in their stomachs. s sterna fuliginosa Gmel. Sooty Tern. Description. Adult.—Ijength about 17 inches ; extent about34 inches. Bill and legs black ; iris reddish-brown ; forehead, sides of head and entire under parts white ; back, wings and upper parts deep black. In the young the plumage is sooty-brown, darkest on back and wings, grayish on abdomen ; lining of wings white ; scapulars and wing coverts tipped with white. COLOR PLATE Plate 4.
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Wood Duck—Summer Duck. 1. Male; 2. Female.

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