Vol. III. 

 1904 



DEGEN, New Species of Australian Magpies. 207 



rostris, as being more in accord with what then appeared to be 

 the stronger feature — which view he only reluctantly seemed 

 to share. In retaining dorsalis as a specific designation Mr. 

 Campbell showed great foresight, and adopted a course 

 which he has no reason now to regret. But how the case would 

 stand now for Mr. Milligan's species had Mr. Campbell acted 

 on my suggestion is easy to perceive, for then Mr. Milligan could 

 not have had recourse to either the vernacular term " Long-billed " 

 or the scientific equivalent " longirostris" this latter having in 

 the above supposed case already been occupied by Mr. Campbell. 

 There would then have remained no other alternative to Mr. 

 Milligan, giving his new Western form a specific name based 

 upon taxonomic features exclusively, than to fall back upon 

 that which has reference to the quondam characters next most 

 strongly assigned to it, to be henceforth known perhaps as 

 G. albicruralis, or the " White-legged Magpie " of Australian 

 vernacular celebrity. 



Birds Occurring in the Region of the North-West 



Cape. 



By Thomas Carter. 



Part IV. (conclusion). 



(138.) HYDROCHELIDON HYBRIDA (Marsh Tern). — This species was only- 

 observed during two years — viz., 1898, when considerable numbers were 

 seen at a flooded white gum flat about 25 miles inland from Point Cloates. 

 This flat was again filled with water-in the record wet season of 1900, and 

 larger flocks were seen there in April, but the birds did not breed, as I had 

 hoped. A few were also seen in July at the Maud's Landing salt-marsh, 

 where was a large sheet of water. 



(139.) GELOCHELIDON ANGLICA (Gull-billed Tern).— This Tern was only 

 once recorded — viz., in May, 1900. On the 1st of that month about five 

 pairs were seen on the flooded marsh at Maud's Landing. Two nests 

 (though they were hardly worthy of that name) were found on one of 

 the low islands, each containing one egg. Two specimens of the birds 

 were shot for identification. One had been feeding almost entirely on 

 grasshoppers, the other on small lizards. 



(140.) HYDROPROGNE CASPIA (Caspian Tern). — Resident, and not un- 

 common on the coast, but not seen in numbers in any one place, one or 

 two pairs only frequenting each sandy spit or small island, where their 

 loud, harsh notes usually revealed the presence of their eggs or young. 

 2 1st September, 1890, young in nest about seven days of age. 25th 

 August, 1891, young birds noted about half grown. 25th March, 1893, 

 natives brought in several eggs from Frazer Island. 5 th August, 1894, 

 1 6th September, 1894, 9th November, 1894, two eggs in nest on each 

 date. 3rd May, 1896, two eggs seen. So these birds have no regular 

 laying season. 



(141.) Sterna dougalli (Roseate Tern). — Not uncommon in the summer 

 months at Frazer Island and sandy points of the mainland. Several 

 clutches of eggs, much incubated, were found on Frazer Island, 12th 

 November, 1893. 



