828 NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



ORDER-GAVI/E: SEA BIRDS. 



FAMILY— LARID^ : GULLS AND TERNS. 

 Sub-family — Sternin^e : Terns. 



638. — Hydrochelidon leucoptera, Mei.siier and Sdiiuz. 

 WHITE-WINGED TERN. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Great Britain, vol. v., pi. 76. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxv., p. 6. 



Previous Description of Eggs. — Legge : B rds of Ceylon, p. 1002 (1880). 



Geographical Distribution. — North-west Australia, Noi-them Terri- 

 tory and North Queensland ; also New Zealand (accidental) and 

 Alriea, migrating north to temperate Asia, South and Central Ern'ope. 

 Said to have occuned once at Wisconsin, America. 



Nest. — Constructed of reeds and rushes, on floating vegetations in 

 marshes (Legge). 



Eijgx. — Clvitch, three nsuallj', four occasionally ; somewhat pointed 

 in] shape ; coloiu' varies considerably, being buff, brownish-buff, pale bidl'y- 

 stone, or pale stone, boldly blotched and clouded, some at the large end, 

 others on the middle, with deep sepia or blackish-brown ; there are also 

 numerous smaller markings of the same, under which are the usual light 

 blots of gi'ey of different shades. Dimensions in inches of selected 

 examples ; (1) 1-37 x 1-01, (2) 1-35 x -99, (3) 1-34 x 1-0 (Legge). 



Ohscrvations. — It appears the Wliite-winged Tern occasionally touches 

 the northern shores of Australia, and tlicre is one instance of its occur- 

 rence in New Zealand, where, on December 12th, 1868, Mr. D. Munro 

 shot a pair on the Waihopai River bed, in the district of Nelson. The 

 stragglers were associated with a colony of White-fronted Terns 

 ( S. frontalis). 



Concerning its general habits, Colonel Legge writes : " Like the last 

 .species (the Marsh Tern), this Marsh Tern is generally met with about 

 inland waters, about which it flies with i-apid, gi-aeeful and buoyant 

 Might, and feeds on insects, water-beetles, small fish, larv», and woniis. 

 It consorts in flocks, .sometimes of considerable numbei-, and associates 

 with the Marsh Tcm, which it excels, however, in the swiftness of its 

 flight," 



