176 LARID.E. 



Hydrochelidon fissipes, Baedeker, Eier Eur. Voj. tab. 32. fig. 3 (1855- 



63) ; Saunders, Ibis, 1871, p. 399. 

 Hydrochelidon nigra, Dresser, Bi>-ds Eur. viii. p. 327 (1876) ; Saunders, 



Cat. Birds B. M. xxv. p. 17 (1896) ; Sharpe, Iland-l. i. p. 133 



(1899). 



The eggs of the Black Tern vary from a pointed oval form to 

 pyriform. The ground-colour ranges from pale buff to brownish 

 buff, and this is heavily blotched aud spotted with reddish brown and 

 blackish brown. With few exceptions, these markings cover quite 

 half the surface of the shell and are often confluent, especially 

 over the broader half. The underlying markings are numerous 

 and of a dull grey colour. Specimens measure from 1"3 to 1'4() in 

 length, and from -9 to 1-05 in breadth, 



2. Goto del Rey, Spain (ior^ ii7/onZ). Saunders Coll. 



4. South Spain. Lord Lilford [P.]. 

 14. Valkenswaard, Holland, 26th May Saebohni Coll. 



(//. Seehohm). 



18. Valkenswaard ( W. Bridges). Saunders Coll. 



18. Holland (r. i?rt/cer). Salvin-Godmau Coll. 



5. Holland. Lord Lilford [P.]. 

 14. Kassarien River, Esthonia Seebohai Coll. 



[Russoxv). 

 2. Garde See, Pomerania, 26th May Seebohni Coll. 

 {H. Seebohm). 



12. Garde See, 30th May [U. S.). Seebobni Coll. 



Hydrochelidon Surinam 3nsis (Gm.).] 

 (Plate XIII. fig. 5.) 



Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis, Baird, B reiver ^- Ridjw. Water Birds 



N. Am. ii. p. 318 (1884). 

 Hydrochelidon surinamensis, Saunders, Cat. Birds B. M. xxv. p. 2i) 



(1896) ; Sharjye, Hand-l. i. p. 134 (1899). 



The eggs of the American Black Tern are absolutely undistin- 

 guishable from the eggs of //. leucoptera and H. nigra , 



1, Little Slave Lake, Canada {S. Jones: Salvin-Godman Coll. 

 Henshaw Coll.). 



13. Chicago (C ^. ^tX-e«: Henshaio Sal vin-Goduiau Coll. 



Coll.). 



Genus PHAETHUSA, Wacjler. 



Phaethusa magnirostria (Licht.). 

 (Plate XIII. fig. 8.) 



Sterna raagnirostris, Thien, Fortpjlanz. ges. Viig. tab. Ixxxii. fig. 6 



(184-5-54). 

 Thalasseus magnirostris, Sd. S; Salv. P. Z. S. 186G, p. 200. 

 Phaethusa maonirostris, Scl. Sf Huds. Argent. Orn. ii. p. 194 (1889) ; 



Saunders, Cat. Birds B. M. xxv. p. 23 (1896) ; Shcrpe, Hanl-l. i. 



p. 134 (1899). 



