BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 147 



Female {breeding plumage). — Similar to male. Dimensions 

 slightly less. 



Male and Female {luinter plumage). — The black on the cro\Vn 

 of the head and nape is streaked with white ; 1)111 orange-red, tij^ped 

 with horn colour. 



hntnature. — Less white on crown and nape than in winter 

 plumage of adults; wings and tail more or less washed with 

 brownish-grey. 



Young. — " Similar, but feathers of the mantle and tail 

 mottled and barred with brownish-black " (B. M. Cat.) 



Nest. — A slight depression in the ground among pig-face weed, 

 &.C. ; usually situated on the rocky summit of an islet. 



Eggs. — Clutch two to three; oval in shape; texture coarse; 

 surface slightly glossy; colour light olive-brown, blotched and 

 spotted with roundish markings of umber and dull greyish-black. 

 Dimensions in mm. of a clutch :— (1) 59 x 42, (2) 60 x 40, (3) 61 x 41. 



Breeding Season. — September to January. 



Geographical Distribution. — Seas of Tasmania, Australia, and 

 New ZealaiTd, also many parts of the coasts of Europe, Asia, and 

 America. 



Observations. — This almost cosmopolitan species may be seen 

 in small numbers round the coast of Tasmania and the shores 

 of many of the islands in Bass Strait. Small parties may be seen 

 about the mouth of the Tamar at almost any time; it comes up 

 the river as far as George Town. 



The Caspian Tern may" readily be distinguished by its habit of 

 carrying its bill downwards at right angles to its head when flying 

 over the water on the look-out for food ; it does not move its head 

 from side to side, but keeps it practically motionless. This Tena 

 is a very graceful diver. When about to take the plunge the wings 

 are closed, and the body falls like a stone into the water; on a still 

 day the splash can be heard for some distance. The body just goes 

 beneath the surface, and that is all; very little time is wasted in 

 the water. Bound our coast it generally moves in pairs, but 

 round the coast of India and about the Persian Gulf it congregates 

 in colonies, oftentimes of considerable size. Dr. Sharpe mentions 

 that it is said to rob other birds' nests, devouring both eggs and 

 young. The Caspian Tern is an extremely noisy bird, uttering its 

 harsh, cackling, screeching notes constantly, especially when 

 either eggs or young are in the nest, thereby attracting attention 

 to the fact. 



*CRESTED TERN (Bass Strait Tern) 



(Sterna bergii, Licht.) 



Male (breeding plu7nage). — Forehead greyish-white, becoming 

 black at the back of the head; back, throat, and all the under 

 surface white; wings and tail grey; bill yellow; feet black. Dimen- 



