250 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 

Distribution —Fairly common on the north coast during the 
north-east monsoon ; rarer elsewhere. A few birds remain in 
the north to breed. Locally found in many parts of India and 
Burma. Occurs throughout the whole of the Old World, except 
in the extreme north, also in North America and Australasia. 
Habits —Found in Ceylon chiefly on lagoons near the coast. 
When fishing it flies with its large bill pointing downwards, 
and covers its beat with a regular and powerful flight. Mr. H. 
Parker found a few birds breeding in June on sand banks off 
the island of Mannar. One or two eggs were laid in shallow 
hollows scratched in the sand. Colour grayish-white with 
markings of grayish-purple and dark brown; average size 2°43 
by 1°70. 
STERNA ANGLICA (Blanford, Vol. IV., p. 311; 
Legge, p. 1011). 
The Gull-billed Tern. 
Description —Summer : A black cap on the head from the 
forehead to the nape, coming as far down as the lower edge 
of the eye ; the nape is crested ; remainder of upper plumage 
pearl-gray ; the wing quills are frosted when fresh, smoky- 
brown as the frosting wears off ; lower parts, including wing 
lining, white. 
In winter the black cap becomes white streaked with black, 
otherwise there is no change. Young birds are gray or gray 
and white on the crown, and the primaries are usually darker. 
Very young birds are partly brown on the back. 
Bill black ; legs and feet black, sometimes tinged reddish ; 
iris hazel-brown. 
Length 15; wing 12°5; tail 5°25, depth of fork 1°5; 
tarsus 1°4; bill from, gape 2. 
Distribution —Common during the north-east monsoon on 
lagoons and estuaries from Mannar round through Trincomalee 
to Hambantota; rare on the west and south-west coast ; 
oceasionally found inland on the larger tanks. Common in 
winter throughout India, and found on the coast in Burma. 
Occurs from the east coast of North America, throughout 
temperate and Southern Europe and Asia, to North Africa 
and Australasia. 

