STEHNA. 311 



Armstrong,', in 1907, show that nests were found in November containing eggs from fresh to hard 

 set; also with young birds. Again in November, 1909, I found the same state of affairs as 

 regards the eggs, but no young birds were observed. 5. aispia is a solitary breeder, only a pair 

 occupying the one island at a time, and no doubt resorting to the same one year after year. In 

 some cases other birds, Gulls, Oyster-catchers, etc., were nesting on the same island with the 

 present species, but always at a respectful distance, for this species attacks any unwary straggler 

 who ventures too near the jealously guarded eggs. The nest is a slight hollow made in ' shelly ' 

 ground, the site always commanding an extensive view of the surrounding sea. The cavity 

 measures nine inches across by two and a quarter in depth, and two eggs are usually laid for a 

 sitting. When disturbed the sitting bird leaves the eggs with a hoarse disagreeable cry, which 

 is repeated by the mate as it approaches, and together they hover overhead, monotonously 

 complaining, and every now and again driving savagely at some inquisitive Gull who comes 

 along to join in the general discord." 



The eggs are usually two, sometimes three, in number for a sitting, and incline from oval 

 to elongate-oval in form, rather coarse-shelled and slightly lustrous. In ground colour they are 

 a dull yellowish-stone, which is occasionally shaded with light bluish-grey, having irregular- 

 shaped freckles, spots and blotches of umber and blackish-brown, with which are intermingled 

 similar but fewer underlying markings of dull grey or inky-grey. On others are streaks, ill-shapen 

 figures and spider-like markings of very dark umber and blackish-brown, with a few very nearly 

 black, all being larger on the thicker end. In some specimens the underlying markings are 

 much more numerous than others. Occasionally sets are found on which the markings are 

 comparatively small, and inclining to round or oval in shape, both the surface and underlying 

 ones being irregularly distributed over the shell. A set of two in the Australian Museum 

 Collection, taken by Mr. O. Lipfert on a reef off Rat Island, Houtman Abrolhos, Western 

 Australia, measures:— Length (.\) 2-66 x 176 inches; (B) 2-66 x 1-69 inches. Two eggs in 

 the Macleay Museum, at the University of Sydney, taken on Bountiful Island, in the Gulf of 

 Carpentaria, Northern Queensland, measure : — Length (A) 2-56 x 17 inches; (B) 2-63 x 176 

 inches. A set of two taken by Dr. L. Holden, on the 8th Deceinber, 1886, on Seven Mile 

 Beach, near Circular Head, on the north-western coast of Tasmania, measures ;— Length (A) 

 2-53 X 1-68 inches; (B) 2-47 x i-6S inches. A single egg, which was much incubated, taken 

 by Mr. E. D. Atkinson on the 24th November, 1892, on Robbin Island, off the north-western 

 coast of Tasmania, measures 2-48 x 1-63 inches. 



In Southern Australia and Tasmania October until the end of February constitutes the usual 

 breeding season. In North-western Australia, Mr. Tom Carter states, there is apparently no 

 fixed breeding season, he having noticed nests with eggs in March, May, August, September 

 and November. 



Sterna gracilis. 



GRACEFUL TERN. 



Slerna <jracilis, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc, 181.5, p. 76 ; id., Bds. Austr., fol. Vol. VII., pi. 27 (1848) ; 

 id., Handbk. Bds. Austr., Vol. II., p. 399 (1865); Sharpe, Hand-1. Bds, Vol. I., p. 135 

 (1899). 



Adult male, in breeding plumage.— g'ejwra/ coJtmr above, including the wings, delicate pearl- 

 grey ; hind-neck ivhile ; the outer primaries dark slatii-greij broadly margined with white on their 

 inner webs, the outer webs of the second, third and fourth primaries frosted with a pale french-grey 



