840 BIRDS or INDIA. 



occasion only, on the lake at Ootacaniund on tlie Neilglierries. 



S. gracilis, Gould, appears to be a very closely allied species from 

 Australia and Oceanica; and there are many other allied species 

 recorded. 



987. Sterna Javanica, Horsfield. 



Bltth, Cat. 1711— S. melanogaster, Temminck — Jerdon, Cat. 

 397— Syki-s. Cat. 229— S. acuticauda. Gray, Hardwicke, 111. 

 Ind. Zool. pi. 



The Black-bellied Term. 



Descr. — Head and nape black ; ni'ck, mantle, wings and tail 

 light grey ; face, lores, and ear-coverts white ; chin and throat 

 white ; neck and breast light pearl-grey ; abdomen, vent, and under 

 tail-coverts brown-black. 



Bill orange-yellow ; irides brown ; legs vermilion-red. Length 

 12 inches ; extent 26 ; wing 9 ; tail 6 ; bill at front Ij'g ; tarsus 1. 

 The wings arp slightly shorter than the forked tail. 



In winter plumage the head is white mixed with dusky, and the 

 abdomen is pearly-grey instead of blp.ck. 



This very elegant Tern is seen in every river of India, hunting 

 singly or in small scattered parties. It breeds on sand- banks in 

 rivers all over the country, laying usually three eggs. Bonaparte 

 classes it under Hydroclielidon. 



Yarrell states that *S^e/-n« ^rt/'ac/wea Brunnich, {Dougalii, Mon- 

 tagu) had been sent from India, but I have seen no other notice of 

 this species occurring in this country. 



Gen. Sternula, Blyth. 



Size small, bill slender, long, yellow ; tail short ; head slightly 

 crested. ' 



TJiis form in its yellow bill, and slightly crested head, approxi- 

 mates to the Sea-Terns, and in its habits is perhaps chiefly a 

 Sea-coast species. 



988. Sternula minuta, Linnjeus. 



Sterna apud Linn^:us — Blyth, Cat. 1712 — Jerdon, Cat. 401 

 —Gould, Birds of Europe, pi 420. 



