T T T T T T î T T T r fm T îm
THALASSETJS CASPIUS.
CASPIAN TEEN.
STERNA CASPIA. Pall. Nov. Com. Petr., Vol. XIV, p. 582. Ib. Lawr., B. of N. Amer., p. 859.
THALASSEUS CASPIUS. Boie. Isis., (1822), p. 563. Id. Coues. Proc. Acad. Nat. Seien., (1862), p. 537.
Tins magnificent Tern is the largest known either in this country or in Europe. I can perceive no differences between specimens
obtained here and in the Old World, sufficient in my opinion to separate them into two species, for, in color of plumage they are exactly
alike, and a slight difference in size can hardly be considered a sufficient reason to separate them, since those examples obtained here
constantly differ in their measurements from-each other. The Caspian Tern seems to be a visitant of many portions of the world, as it is
found, not only on this continent and in Europe, but also in India, Africa, and Australia. The following account I transcribe from Gould’s
‘ Birds of Australia,’ than which, no more important work has ever been published on Ornithology. “ Its favorite breeding-places are the
promontories of small islands, spits of land running out from the shores of the mainland, extensive flats at the entrance of large
rivers, and all similar situations. I never observed it breeding in company, and seldom met with more than a pair on an island,
unless it was of considerable extent. It lays two eggs on the bare ground, often within a very short distance o f the water’s edge.
No bird watches its eggs with greater assiduity, or defends them with greater courage ; and woe betides the unlucky Gull or other
natural enemy that may wander within the precincts of its breeding-place. 1 could always discover its eggs by the clamorous,
cackling, screeching note, which it coustantly utters while flying over the place where they were deposited. The breeding-season
comprises the months of August, September, and October, during which period the crown of the head is of a deep black hue, which
gives place to a spotted appearance at other seasons. Both sexes are subject to precisely the same changes, and so much are they
alike, that it is only by the somewhat smaller size of the female that they can be distinguished. The extensive development of the
wings gives this fine species immense powers of flight ; it also plunges into the water with the greatest' impetuosity, and brings from
beneath the surface fishes o f a very considerable size. The eggs are of a stone-color, marked all over with large and small blotches
of umber-brown, a great portion of which appear as if beneath the surface of the shell; they are about two inches and five eighths
long by one inch and three quarters broad.”
On this continent the Caspian Tern is found during the summer in the Pur Countries, Hudson’s Bay, and Labrador, coming south
during the winter along the Atlantic coast, sometimes as far as New Jersey.
The following interesting account o f this species I extract from “ Meyer’s British Birds’’ :. “ The sea and salt-water lakes are at all
times preferred by the Caspian Tern where the water is clear and open; but either in deep or shallow water, on a rocky coast, or a flat,
sandy shore, this bird equally finds its home for the time o f its residence. When disturbed, the Caspian Tern flies invariably towards the
open sea and disappears, but never seeks its safety by resorting to the sand, and its appearance on fresh-water lakes or rivers is
consequently very rare. The food of the Caspian Tern consists chiefly in live fish of the species Clupea, its manner of taking which, is
by flying at a little elevation over the water, and hovering from time to time, in the manner of the Kestrel hawk, in order to watch its
prey the better ; when it has marked its fish, the bird pounces down and catches it in an instant, and swallows it whole ; the large
beak, and consequently wide gape, make the ingress of a good-sized herring an easy matter. It is said that this species dives after its
prey, but from our own information on the subject, we are enabled to say that it mostly watches for fish that swim near the surface
of the water, and which, consequently, it very easily obtaius by dipping its beak and head only in the liquid element. The fish which
the present species takes arc always of a size which it can swallow entire ; and as soon as it has obtained the fish, the bird pinches it
apparently, and turns it in its beak so as to be able to swallow it head foremost—an act which occupies very little time. Besides fish,
the young of other birds are also frequently consumed by the present species, the remains of which have been found in its stomach.
The nest is only a hollow scratched in the sandy ground, in which the eggs are deposited, being two or three in number ; and the young
are hatched in about twenty days. The nestlings are at first covered with a white down, spotted with dull grey marks; they soon run
about, and are brought up by the parent birds with small fishes. Although the birds use great exertions to prevent an intruder from
approaching the nest and eggs, by flying over his head and making a considerable noise, yet it has been remarked, that when they
are once disturbed, they do not easily return to their nest, and are said even not to revisit the same spot the following year if they are
fired at.”
The adult Caspian Tern has the upper part of the head and occiput, black. Wings and back, bluish-white. Primaries, dark grey
on their inner webs; shafts, white. Tail, greyish white. Entire under parts, pure white. Bill, vermillion. Legs and feet, black.
The figures are life-size.