540 Messrs. E. L. & E. L. C. Layard on the 



85. LaRUS NOV^-HOLLANDIiE, Sliaw. 



This is tlie only Gull we have seen on the coasts of the 

 island. It is said to breed in large numbers on. the Huon 

 Islands, at the north end, about August, This date would 

 accord well with the dates on which we have shot birds in 

 young plumage about Noumea. 



We kept a specimen alive for many months, rearing it from 

 its nestling-plumage, but were finally obliged to part with 

 our pet, as he took to killing the young ducks and chickens, 

 and, after dipping them in his tub, swallowing them down at 

 a gulp. 



86. Sterna bergii, Licht. 



Not uncommon along the coasts ; feeds on fish. This is 

 probably the species identified as Thalasseus pelicanoides 

 by M. Marie. 



87. Sterna melanauchen, Temm. 



We once obtained this Tern, a female in non-breeding 

 dress, at Ansevata, in company with the next species. It 

 had been feeding on small Crustacea. Date 10th October, 

 1878. 



88. Sterna gracilis, Gould. 



Breeds some years in thousands on the sandbanks in the 

 circling reef near the Amedee-island lighthouse. The eggs 

 are pale drab, of different shades, mingled usually with a tinge 

 of green, and generally covered with a confused mass o£ spots 

 and blotches of varying shapes, sizes, and colours, from a 

 pale purple-drab to a dark purple, or almost black -brown : 

 axis 1" 8'", diam. 1" 3'". 



89. Sternula placens, Gould {cf. Ibis, 1881, p. 134^). 

 We originally identified a little Tern found breeding by 



L. L. on the islands off Ansevata as S. nereis, Gould; but 

 Mr. Masters, of the MacLeay Museum in Sydney, showed us 

 typical specimens of that bird, and pointed out that our 

 species had been separated from it by the name of S. placens, 

 under which we now place it. 



* In 'Ibis,' 188J, p. 134, 12th line from bottom, for ''he had formerly 

 identified," read "which we " «&c. 



