Birds from British East Africa and Uganda. 53 



only three specimens in the Museum collection, two from 

 Fantee and one from Victoria, Cameroon. 



As reo^ards the names, Sterna fissipes Linn. (Syst. Nat. 

 12th ed. i. 1766, p. 228 : South Europe), and Sterna cinerea 

 Gm. (Syst. Nat. i. pt. 2, 1789, p. 607 : Italy), are both very 

 indeterminate, but I think that the former applies more to 

 H. nigra and the latter more to H. leucoptera in changing 

 plumage, though it is impossible to decide the question with 

 any certainty. 



[Irides brown; bill black ; legs and toes red. Several seen.] 



41. Gelochelidon nilotica nilotica. Africau Gull-billed 

 Tern. 



Sterna nilotica Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. pt. 2, 1789, p. 606 : 

 Egypt. 



a b. (^ '^ ad. Lake Naivasha, 6700 ft. Dec. 4. 



Total length in flesh : (J 15 inches ; ? 14 inches. 

 Wing : (^ 327 mm. 



Both examples are in moult and rapidly assuming the full 

 "winter dress. In the female the first primaries are only 

 partly grown and the wing cannot therefore be measured. 



[Irides brown ; bill black ; legs and toes dark brown. 

 Several seen.] 



42. Larus cirrhocephalus. Grey-Headed Gull. 



Larus cirrhocephalus Vieill. N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. xxir 

 1818, p. 502 : Brazil. 



a, b, c. ? imm. Lake Naivasha, 6700 ft. Dec. 4. 



One with a rather shorter bill, 30 mm. as against 35 and 

 37 mm. of the other two, has the [bill pinkish brown, tip 

 black; legs and toes reddish flesh]. Except for the bill the 

 bird is similar to the other two. 



Total length in flesh ; 15^, 15|, 16 inches. Wing : 287, 

 291, 305 mm. 



All are a little worn and one is in second dress, ^. e. the 

 dress that is assumed by the first autumn moult and which 

 is retained till the following autumn moult. 



I am unable to see any character that separates African 

 from American specimens. 



