230 Mr. R. Swinhoc on Amoy Ornithology. 



species of this singular group, and I look with anxiety to pro- 

 curing an adult specimen. 



June 18th. — At Amoy the Larince are only winter visitants ; 

 but some of the Sternince pass the summer in the neighbour- 

 hood, as I have before stated. Sterna caspia and Stei'nula 

 sinensis I have only found here in winter ; but Sterna velox I 

 noted breeding at Kelung, in Formosa, and Sternula sinensis on 

 the east coast of that island. One often sees the former of these 

 last two in Amoy Bay in summer. But there is still another 

 Tern, at which I have caught repeated glances, both in pairs and 

 in small parties during the hot weather, and, not having pro- 

 cured specimens, I vaguely set it down as Sterna hirundo (Ibis, 

 1866, p. 135). This day I was much pleased by my hunter 

 bringing in, along with some specimens of S. velox, several of 

 the unidentified Tern. He told me that he shot them among 

 some small rocks off Q.ueraoy (a large island seaward of Amoy), 

 where they were breeding. Their eggs the hunter had unfortu- 

 nately converted into " Chowchow." It is just in the neighbour- 

 hood indicated that I had before watched parties of this small 

 Tern on the sea-washed rocks while passing in a steamer. The 

 examples agree very nearly with Sterna melanauchen, Temm., 

 and, indeed, from the wide range of that species, must belong 

 to it. From Dr. Jerdon's description (B. Ind. iii. p. 844), however, 

 it diiFers in its much longer forked tail, in the fine rosy hue of its 

 whole under-plumage (which that author does not mention at 

 all), in its wholly black bill, and in the madder-red subtint of 

 its legs. I strongly suspect that the bird Dr. Jerdon drew up 

 his description from was a specimen shot in winter, which might 

 account for the short length he allows the tail, and one long 

 exposed in a cabinet open to the light, which would further 

 account for the lack of the blush and the changed hue of legs 

 and bill. Even shut up in closed drawers I find that my skins 

 have lost many of their roses, and that the tips of their bills 

 have become yellow horn-colour. A few words therefore on the 

 appearance of specimens skinned, but not yet stiff, will instruct 

 many of my readers. 



Sterna melanauchen, Temm. Length 13 inches ; wing 8'5. 

 Tail 7, fork 3-8. Bill along culmen 1-4. Tarse about 75. 



