BLACK TERN. Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis (Gmelin)

Field characters.—As small as Robin; resembling a swallow in form and flight; wings long and pointed, tail somewhat forked. Head and most of body (in summer adults) black; back, tail, and wings, dark gray. Usually seen coursing over lakes or smooth-running streams. Voice: A grating cry.

Occurrence.—A transient through the region. Observed by us only at Mono Lake.

The terns are mostly associated with the seashore, but this member of the family is partial to inland waters. Black Terns were seen on two occasions at Mono Lake in 1916. On May 6, six were observed foraging about the marginal ponds near the mouth of Rush Creek. On June 3 one was seen. The graceful aerial evolutions of the birds, which resemble those of swallows, and the black and dark gray plumage and forked tail serve easily to identify this species.