118 LAEID-E. 



Stemula minuta, Bote, Isis, 1822, p. 563 (type of genus) ; Kaup, 

 Natiirl. Si/st. pp. 95 & 196 (1829) ; Grm/, List Gen. p. 79 (1810), 

 and p. 100 (1841) ; Boie, Isis, 1844, p. 183; Hiipp. Syst. Uehers. 

 p. 140 (1845 : Lower Egypt) ; Reichenb. Syst. Nat. tab. iv. 

 (1850), and Av. Syxt. Nat.T^. v (1852); Licht. Komencl. Av. p. 98 

 (1854) ; Brehm, Naiim. 1855, p. 295 ; Loche, Expl. Sc. Alyer., 

 Ois. ii. p. 204 (1867) ; Fritsch, Vdg. Eur. p. 460, Taf. 54. iig. 5 

 (1870) ; Saund. Ibis, 1871, p. 399 (Spain) ; Gould, B. Gt. Brit. 

 T. pi. 73 (1873); Hmgl. Orn. N.O.-Afr. Bd. ii. pt. 2, p. 1441 

 (1873); Hume (^Benders. Lahore toYark. p. 303 (1873) ; Reiehenoio, 

 J. f. O. 1874, p. 374 (God Coast) ; Hume, Nests ^ Egrjs Ind. 

 ^.'p. 654 (1875); Smlly, Sir. F. iv. p. 204 (1876: Yarkand & 

 Kashgaria ; breeds) ; Menzbier, Bull. Mosc. Iviii. pt. 1, p. 136 (1883 : 

 Central Russia ; breeds) ; Shmye, ed. Layard's B. S. Afr. p. 705 

 (1884) ; Olphe-Gall. Coyitr. Faun. Orn. JSur. Occid. liv. x. p. 35 

 (1886) ; Giylioli, Avif. Ital. p. 418 (1886) ; Salvad. Ucc. Ital. p. 278 

 (1887) ; Giglioli, i. Resoc. Av. Ital. p. 632 (1889) ; id. ii. Resoc. 

 p. 661 (1890); id. iii. Resoc. p. 517 (1891) ; Heine ^ Reichenow, 

 Nomencl. Mus. Hein. p. 3.55 (1890). 



Sterniila fissipes, Brehm, Vdg. Deutschl. p. 790 (1831) ; id. Vogelf. 

 p. 349 (18.55). 



Sternula pomarina, Brehm, Vdg. Deutschl. p. 791 (1831) ; id. Naum. 

 1855, p. 295 ; id. Vogelf. p. 349 (18.55). 



Sternula danica, Brehm, Vdg. Deutschl. p. 791 (1831) ; id. Naum, 

 1855, p. 295 ; id. Vogelf. p. .349 (1855). 



Hydroclielidon minuta, Bp. Cat. Ucc. Eur. p. 77 (1842). 



Sternula orientalis, Licht. Nomencl. Ac. p. 98 (18-54 : East Indies*). 



Sternula danubialis, Brehm, Naum. 1855, p. 295 ; id. Vogelf. p. 349 

 (1855). 



Sternula meridionalis, Brehm, Naum, 1855, p. 295; id. Vogelf. 

 p. 349 (18-55). 



Sterna gouldi, Hvme, Str. F. v. p. 326 (1877: India; nee Reichenb., 

 whicb is S.fuliyinosa) ; V. Ball, Str. F. \n. p. 2-33 (1888) ; /. R. 

 C'ripps, t. c. p. 314 (E. Bengal) ; Huyne, op. cit. viii. p. 116 (1879 

 List) ; id. op. cit. ix. p. 131 (1880) ; id. op. cit. xi. p. 3-50 (1888 

 Lower Brabmaputra). 



Adult in hreeding-plumage. Very similar to the preceding species, 

 but somewhat smaller; the two outer pairs of primaries with 

 hlackish shafts and generally darker webs ; tail-streamers never so 

 much prolonged ; otherwise identical. Total length 9*5 inches 

 when the streamers are fully developed, culmen 1"4, wing 6-75, tail 

 3"7, depth of fork 1"6, tarsus 0-7, middle toe with claw 0'8. The 

 female has the streamers less prolonged than the male ; and, owing 

 to this species passing a good deal of time on the ground, its tail- 

 feathers are seldom to be seen at their best. 



Adult in ivinter, Immature, and Young. As in S. sinensis, with 

 the difference that the two and even the three outer pairs of pri- 

 maries with their shafts are consistently darker. 



Nestling. Pale buff above, marbled with black ; tawny white 

 below. 



Hah. Europe from about 60° N. (rare in the Baltic), as far south 

 as the Mediterranean and the Caspian, breeding ; N. Africa ; the 



* Type in Berlin Mus. examined. 



