320 



Sterna fuliginosa. 



SduTV TKKN. 



Stfrnafidiginusit, Gmel., Syst. Nat, Tom. I., p. G05 (17S,S) ; Saunders, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., Vol. 



XXV., p. lOG (I.SilG); Sliarpe, Hand-1. J5ds., Vol. I., p. 13G (ISO'J). 

 Oui/c/io/n-ion. fii/U/inosns,:' iio^\\d, I'.ds. Austr., fol. Vol. VII., pi. 32 (1S4S). 

 Oiii/c/n>/ii-ioti fn/ii/inimt, Gould, Haiidl]k. I'.il.s. Austr., Vol. II., p. 40S (ISG.'i). 



Adult m.m.k, in breeding plumage. — Umipral cohmr ahin-f^ i)ir!/i(Uiiij tlif. iriiiyg, smi/y-bldck, 

 l/ir priina)-ies and priiiiary-cocerlx sliailed wif/i dark ijrey ; lail-featliKrs sooty-bhick, tin' slreatacrs 

 ivliitf, )i-aglied ii't/Ji, (jrey more, conspicuously /oicards tin' tips of the. inii.i'.r tcehs : top of head, iiape aitil 

 centre oj liind-neek black : ou. the forehead a broad cresceulic band of irJiile e.clciidin(/ about ludf iray 

 over eacli eye, and separated from, the /rhite bnrer sides of the head by an oblii/ue narroir black 

 band extending fiom the posterior portion of tlie eye to the upper mandible; chia, throat, sides of 

 ■neck and breast irhite ; abdoineu ami under tail-coi'e.rls faint greyish-white ; bill black ; legs and feet 

 black : iris reddisli-broirn. Total lengtJi in the jlrsh 17 inches, nd-ug 11-75, central tail-feathers 

 .'/\.', onter taiffeot/ters 7'7'i, bill 1 -(i, tarsus 1. 



Adult FEM.\lK- — Similar in plamaye to the male. 



Distribution. — North-western .Vustralia, Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, 

 Western Australia, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island. 



J 



N Australian waters the Sooty Tern is an inhabitant of the surrounding seas and islets of the 

 western, northern and eastern portions of the continent. It is common in North-eastern 



Australia, becoming 

 rarer in south-eastern 

 waters, and the far- 

 ther south one goes 

 on the eastern side 

 of the continent, the 

 scarcer it becomes. 

 Although there are 

 several specimens 

 in the Australian 

 Museum labelled 

 j4 Sydney Harbour, I 

 have never observed 

 it anywhere on the 

 coast of New South 

 Wales, neither has a 

 specimen in the Hesh been received by the Trustees from the adjacent islands or from any part 

 OJ the State during the past twenty-seven years. Hontman .\brolhos, lying off the coast of 

 Western Australia, is one of its favourite breeding grounds, as also are various islands in Torres 

 Strait, the islands just outside the Barrier Reef and between tbat reef and the mainland of 

 North-eastern Queensland. To these may be added those insular dependencies of New South 

 Wales, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk- Island. 



It may be distinguished chielly by its deeply forked tail and differently coloured elongated 

 outer tail-feathers, and passes most of its time on the wing. It is a poor swimmer, and when on 

 land simply rests, its comparatively small legs and feet ill-fitting it for ambulatory exercise. 



SOOTY TEHN. 



