OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 139 



Notes on some Birds from Savage Island, Tutuila, &c, in the 

 collection of the Rev. Mr. Whitmee, F.R.G.S., &c., &c. 



By E. P. Ramsay, F.L.S., Curator of the Australian Museum. 



Through the kindness of the Rev. S. J. Whitmee, I have been 

 enabled to examine a small collection of birds, which that gentle- 

 man has brought with him from the South Sea Islands. This 

 collection contains some very interesting species from Savage 

 Island, and is valuable in determining the range of habitat of 

 some of the South Sea Island birds. I find among those obtained 

 at the Island of " Tokalow " of the Union Group, a very beautiful 

 species of Tern, rarely found in Australian collections, perhaps 

 from its seldom visiting the coast, and belonging more to the 

 sea-loving section of the group (Anous) than to those {Sterna) 

 which usually frequent the shores. 



This species is seldom seen near land except during the 



breeding season when it congregates in great numbers ; I 



find it to be identical with Procelsterna (Lafr) albivittata, (Bp.) 



the Anous cinereus of Gould, but it differs from Mr. Gould's 



description* a little in the size, as will be seen from the following 



measurements. 



Anous cinereus, Gould. 



Mr. Whitmee' s specimens from Tolcalow. 

 Total length from base of bill to oil gland 6*1 inches ; from 

 tip of bill to extreme tip of outer tail feathers, 105 inches ; bill 

 from forehead 1*1 inches, from angle of mouth l'4t inches. Wing 

 from flexure 7 '25 inches ; tarsus 09 inch ; tail from oil gland to 

 centre feathers 3*2 inches ; from ditto to outer feathers 4'5 inches ; 

 middle toe and nail, 1*2 inches. 



Measurements from Mr. Gould's Handbook ii. p. 421. 



Total length, 11 inches; bill, 1J inches ; wing, 8 inches; tail, 

 5 inches ; tarsi, 1J inches ; middle toe and nail, If inches. 



I may also note from near Samoa a specimen of Pufiinus 

 {Nectris), carneipes ? This species differs from its near ally 

 Pufiinus brevicaudis {Brandt) in having a longer tail, wings, 



* Gould, Bda., Austr., fol. Vol. VII, pi. 37, id. Handbook, Vol. II, p. 421. 



