302 



These situations are favourable for breeding places, while the adjoining grass-lands aflords 

 feeding grounds, especially after a good season, and insect life is abundant. Here it may be 

 seen " hawking " over the plains, or above the water, descending now and again and securing 

 some insect, and then quickly rising, its prey being eaten while on the wing. (Jf the specimens 

 in the Australian Museum Collection, most were secured in the spring and summer months 

 between the Lachlan and Darling Kivers, by the late Mr. K. II. liennett. There are specimens 

 also obtained at Gravesend, near Moree, in Northern New South Wales, and Mr. George Savidge 

 obtained it at Copmanhurst, the head of navigation of the Claience Kiver, and about eighty 

 miles from the coast. It is seldom seen on the coast near Sydney, but occasionally it occurs on 

 the flats at the mouth of Cook River, where it enters Botany ISay. There are mounted specimens 



in the Collection (jbtained in this 

 locality by Mr. J. M. Cantle, on the 

 i4tli November, 1.S94. One is in fully 

 adult breeding plumage, as described 

 above, the other has the fore-part of 

 the head mottled with white and the 

 centre of the lower breast and abdomen 

 almost pure white. An adult female, 

 shot from the nest on the 8th Novem- 

 ber, 1889, by Mr. K. H. Bennett, on 

 Vandembah Station, has also the sides 

 of the forehead sparingly freckled with 

 white. The eggs, three in number, 

 were taken at the same time and are 

 now in the Collection. The late Mr. 

 Howard Saunders describes the adult 

 in breeding plumage as having the 

 "forehead, crown and nape deepblaclc," 

 and the adult in winter plumage 

 " forehead white, crown and nape 

 streaked and mottled with black ; 

 under parts entirely white." None of the specimens in the Australian Museum Collection are 

 in full winter plumage. The nearest approach to it is one of the birds referred to from the 

 mouth of Cook River. 



Its food consists of various insects and their larv;v, both acjuatic and terrestrial, but chiefly 

 grasshoppers and dragon-flies, to which is sometimes added small fishes. 



From Copmanhurst, Upper Clarence River, New South Wales, Mr. George Savidge sent 

 the following notes: — " Marsh Terns (Hydrochdidon hyhvida) ai rived here in July, 1902, and 

 stayed until about the end of October. They were fairly plentiful thirty miles higher up the 

 river, in pairs and small flocks of about four to six. They would rest on any dead limb over- 

 hanging or near water. A small stony island opposite the house was a favourite place for them, 

 and they would stand in the water until it got too high with the tide. They reminded me very 

 much of the Black-shouldered Kite as they hovered for just a second or two, and plunged into 

 the water, but they were quickly up again head first. What they caught I could not quite find 

 out, but I believe small fish. The skin sent is a male." 



Writing from Yandembah Station, near Booligal, New South Wales, in 1889, the late Mr. 

 K. H. Bennett made the following interesting notes : — "Hydrochdidon hyhrida is numerous here 

 in good seasons as is the present one. Like Sterna anglica its food is not confined to aquatic 

 insects, etc., as the stomachs of many that I have e.xamined were crammed with centipedes, also 



MARSH TKRN. 



