STERNIN^. 839 



This Tern is very common throughout the greater part of India, 

 chiefly frequenting rivers, but now and then hunting over large 

 tanks or inundated ground. It breeds on churrs and sand-banks 

 throughout the country, . laying generally three eggs. It hunts 

 usuall}' singly or in pairs, or in very small parties, and does not 

 congreo-rate much. 



Its geograpiiical distribution is somewhat limited, as it does not 

 appear to occur out of India, including Ceylon and Burmah, though 

 it may perhaps be met with in the South of China. Mr. Brooks 

 informs me that h^ found a large regular deposit of these Tern's 

 eggs, upwards of a hundred, mixed with those of other species 

 and also of the Skimmer, on a sand-bank in the Ganges. 

 " I suppose," he writes, " that these were laid by birds which had 

 not time to prepare a nest." 



Gen. Sterna, Linn, (as restricted). 



Bill slender, lengthened ; tall much forked ; the generic name 

 Sterna is now applied to species similar to the common Tern 

 of Europe. The bill is usually yellow or red, and the feet are red. 



986. Sterna Nirundo, Linn^us. 



Blyth, Cat. 1708— Gould, Birds of Europe, pi, 417. 

 The European Tern. 



Pescr — Whole head above with the nape black ; plumage above 

 pale grey ; upper tail-coverts white ; tail pale grey, the feathers 

 white on their inner webs ; chin, throat, ear-coverts, and sides of 

 neck pure white ; rest of the lower parts pearly-greyish-white ; 

 lower tail-coverts white. 



Bill deep red ; irides brown ; legs red. Length 121 inches ; wing 

 nearly 10 ; tail 4^ ; bill at front If ; tarsus 1. The wings slightly 

 exceed the tail. 



In winter, the forehead and top of the head are white ; and 

 round the eyes, the occiput and nape, are blackish mixed with white. 



The common Tern of Europe appears to be rare in Southern and 

 Central India, but, according to Adams, is common on the Indus, 

 and the rivers of the Punjab, and also on the lakes of Cashmere. 

 It does not breed, as far as is known, in India. I procured it, on one 



