232 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



than the SilsiUs specimens, having the head still profusely 

 mottled. The Caspian Tern* breeds in January in the 

 region of the Zambesi (Ibis, 1864, p. 337). 



Obs. Common Tern, Sterna fliroiatilis (Naum.). 



At Menzaleh I observed some small Terns which 

 may have been S.fliiviatilis. Hasselquist gives 

 a long description of a Tern which comes to 

 Trajan's canal in great flocks in the beginning 

 of January, but I cannot satisfactorily make it 

 out. 



206. Whiskered Tern, Hydrochelidon hybrida (Natt.). 



I confess I doubt this being a resident species (cf. 

 Heugl. Syst. Ubers, No. 734), though it became excessively 

 common after the 26th of April. In many parts the Nile 

 was covered with them, as they slowly beat up against the 

 north wind, which prevailed very much in the beginning of 

 May, and which was no doubt detaining them. I recollect 

 one evening at dusk I observed these Terns feeding upon the 

 yellow-dun fly in company with hundreds of Bats. The 

 intensity of colour on the breast varied much, the darker 

 being of course in summer garb. 



* In the Dover Museum there is a very young Caspian Tern with 

 some down on the head. It was brought quite fresh to the Curator 

 (still in the flesh I believe), and must have been killed not very far off. 

 He told me that the man who brought it was a foreigner. It is 

 possible that it came from Sylt ; if on the other hand it was a 

 British-killed one, it was very interesting in that state. It is not the 

 example mentioned at p. 265 of "The Note-Book of a Naturalist," by 

 E. P. Thompson, who I believe started the Museum at Dover. 



