STERNINJ2. 843 



for some miles. It is also found at Madras and on the Malabar 

 Coast, at the mouths of rivers, and alon!^ the coast and back-waters. 

 It breeds on islands on the Red Sea, and also in China. 



990. Thalasseus bengaiensis, Lesson. 



Sterna apud Lesson — Bltth, Cat. 1704 — Jerdon, Cat. 402 — 

 S. affinis, Riippell, F., Ab., pi. 14. — S. Torresii, GouLD, Birds 

 of Australia VII., pi. 25 — S. media, Horsfield — S. poliocercus, 

 Gould ? 



The Smaller Sea-Tern. 



Descr. — -Whole head, including the fore-head and occipital crest, 

 glossy-black ; lores, face, sides of neck, and all the lower parts 

 white ; upper plumage light silvery- grey, paling slightly on the 

 tail ; quills dark grey, white on the inner portion of the inner webs. 



Bill yellow ; irides deep brown ; legs black. Length 15 to 16 

 inches ; wing 12 ; tail 6^; bill at front 2^; tarsus nearly 1;^, 



The same remarks apply to this species as to the previous one. 

 6'. Torresii is represented as having the wing 13 inches lonir, and 

 the bill 2~-Q. S. offinis has the wing 11, and the bill 2^. 



This species has the same haunts and habits as the lasr, and is 

 perhaps more abundant, especially about the back-waters of Madras 

 and the Malabar Coast. The bill is much more slender tiian in the 

 large Sea-Tern. It breeds in islands in the Red Sea, and the eggs of 

 both this and the last species are figured in one volume of the 'Ibis.' 



A specimen from the Red Sea in the Museum of the Asiatic 

 Society is smaller than Indian specimens, agreeing nearly with 

 Riippell's measurements of .b'. affinis. 



A peculiar form of Tern, S. incn, Lesson, has been separated as 

 Lai'osterna by Blyth, and Inca by Strickland ; and the only other 

 genus recorded is Gygis, Wagler, containing one (or two) pure 

 white species of Tern from the Oceanic region. 



Oceanic Terns and Noddies. 

 Gen. Ontchoprion, Wagler. 

 Syn. Ilaliplana. 



Char. — Bill long, slender, black ; wings long ; feet fully webbed ; 

 tail moderate, slightly forked ; middle toe with the claw serrated. 



