M. Sundcvall on the Birds of Calcutta. 237 



105. Sterna stolidn, L. Genus Megalopterus, Boie. Nigro-fusca 

 fronte canescente, loris atris. cauda rotundata. Longitude alae circa 

 250 mill. ; rostrum variat: 35 — 50 mill, (e fronte). 



Junior magis grisescens ; adulta nigrior, fronte albidiore. DiiFert 

 a Sternis propriis : forma caudae, colore, collo longiore, et humero 

 cubitoque ut in Procellaridibus longitudine trunci, unde volatus alius. 

 Unguis medius in quibusdam, minime specifice distinctis, intus ser- 

 ratus (an differentia sexus ? in uno ^ observatum). 



This bird^ common in all collections, is one of the most widely 

 extended species : I have found it very common in all the Indian 

 Ocean, and in the Atlantic as far north as Madeira, though less 

 frequent than on the other side of Africa. Like all the truly 

 oceanic birds it was most abundant towards the south, and was 

 seen in great numbers about 39^ S. in October. According to 

 the observations of others, it occurs still further to the south in 

 the Pacific Ocean. At night they settled occasionally on the 

 vessel, and could sometimes be captured by hand. One evening 

 after dark a noddy settled on the steersman^s head and was caught 

 by him. This occurred the 7th of September near the equator 

 in the Atlantic, and as it was the only one which I procured on 

 that side of Africa, it served for comparison with those of the 

 Indian Ocean : they are of the same species. I have only seen 



ness and bright blue colour which prevail in great depths of ocean. This Dys- 

 porus moves the wings during flight eight or ten times in succession, and then 

 sails forwards a short distance with the wings still; but it cannot, any more 

 than the other species which I have seen, soar round in majestic circles like 

 the petrels and frigate-birds. The same seems to be the case with D. bassamis, 

 though it flies somewhat more lightly and considerably higher than the 

 southern species. Like Phaeton and the other Dyspori this bird plunges 

 and dives some distance under water, and then suddenly flies up again without 

 running on the surface. Those which were opened had eaten flying-fish, 

 and one had four of these fish the size of a common herring, besides a crab, 

 in its stomach. Like all sea-birds they had a remarkable number of tape- 

 worms in the intestines. The flesh was oily and tough. This as well as the 

 Indian species showed much curiosity, though they did not fly around the 

 pennant, which is too high for them, but kept astern of the vessel and peered 

 down on to the deck without attempting to settle. 



4. D.piscaior, vide supra. No. 104. In Mari Indieo et Sinensi, 



5. D.fuscns. Sulafusca, Vieill. Gal. Pelecanus sula^ L., Lath., secun- 

 dum synonymiam et descr. sed diagnosis a D. piscatore desunita. Catesby 

 87. fig. opt. — Gula nuda, facie pedibusque flavescentibus, rostro basi con- 

 vexo-incrassato, apice subrecto. Cauda rigida, acutissima, 4 poll, ultra alas. 

 Color obscure nigro-rufescens, in adultis ventre albo. Ala 400 millim.," 

 Cauda 220, rostrum e fronte 98. Flab, in Oceano Atlantico, ad Americam, 

 intra zonam torridam. (Junior subtusquoque fuscus, Licht.) Conf. Pr. Max. 

 Beytr. iv. p. 890. 



6. D. parvus, 111. (secundum Kuhl in expl. tab. Daubent. et Buff. 973.) 

 Pelecanus parvus, Lath. "Niger subtus albus, facie plumosa; 18 poll. 

 Cayenne." Lath. 



7. D. fiber. Pel. fiber, L., Lath. Ut prsecedens mihi ignotus. An junior 

 D. j>iscutor 1 sed difterre videtur *' darso postice alUo." 



