39 



Sternula sinensis, Gmelin. (S. placens, Gould.) Chinese Tern, 

 White-shafted Ternlet, kc. 



This bird was found breeding by Messrs. Grime A: Yardley, 

 daring a visit to the Tweed River Heads on the 7th October, 

 1889. The eggs two in number for a sitting were laid in a slight 

 depression in the sand, all the eggs taken at that time being 

 in an advanced stage of incubation ; in form they vary from true 

 ovals to swollen ovals, terminating somewhat abruptly at one 

 end, some of them being of a stone-grey ground colour, others a 

 light cofFee-brown, with rounded spots and irregular shaped 

 penumbral blotches of umber-brown and dark slaty-grey, the 

 latter colour in some instances predominating and appearing as if 

 beneath the surface of the shell. Four specimens measure as 

 follows :— (A) 1-28 X 0-95 inch ; (B) 1-27 xO-9i inch ; (C) M8 x 

 0-95 inch; (D) 1-25 x 0*9 inch. Skins of the parent birds were 

 obtained and forwarded with the eggs for identification.* Plate i., 

 fig. 1. 



♦P.L.S., N.S.W., 2nd Ser., Vol. iv., Dec, 1889. 



♦ t » 11^ 



