NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 297 



breeding on one, and Sterna anmthefa on the other. The former 

 (Sterna albigena) lays in the open on the bare ground ; no nest, but 

 in some instances, a few pieces of twigs were observable. Eggs, 

 in number one or two, not more. One egg was peculiar, being almost 

 white without any spots, the bird was shot off the nest, so there 

 could be no mistake. The eggs of this species, like those of most 

 of the Terns, vary a good deal in shape, size and colour. Typically 

 they are moderately broad ovals somewhat pointed towards the small 

 end, but some specimens are quite of the hen-shaped type, others 

 are broader and slightly pyriform, while I have three or four very 

 elongated ovals markedly pointed towards the small end. Typically 

 the ground-colour is a moderately pale brownish-yellow-stone colour, 

 but occasionally this brightens to a warm cafe-au-lait ; in many it is 

 only creamy, and rarely it is almost pure white. Typically, again, 

 the markings are neither very large or very dense. Moderate- sized 

 blotches, ' specks and spots of a brown, varying from deep umber 

 brown, almost black, through a variety of shades to almost sepia 

 brown. In some eggs all these primary markings are very small. 

 One egg in twenty exhibits a few good sized blotches. Beside these 

 primary markings, all the eggs exhibit more or less numerous 

 grey or pale inky-purple sub-surface looking streaks, clouds and 

 spots. 



In one or two eggs the primary markings are altogether wanting, 

 and they exhibit none but these secondary ones. One egg we got 

 had the groimd white and was absolutely devoid of all markings. 

 Variations like this occur in most species ; even in highly coloured 

 eggs, like CEclicnemus scolopax, similar white varieties occur. The 

 texure of the shell is fine and compact, but it is entirely devoid of 

 gloss. • 



The eggs vary from 1*48 to 1*71 in length and from 1"07 to 1*21 

 in breadth." 



Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds, 2nd edition, Vol. Ill, page 811. 



988fer.— SAUNDER'S TEEN. 



Sterna saundersi, Hume. 

 The Little Tern occurs during the cold weather as far south as 

 Ratnagiri ; at Karachi it is very common, and is a permanent 



