CEYLON RAILS, WADERS, GULLS, AND TERNS. 253 
coverts. In winter, after the moult, the forehead becomes dull 
white, the crown gray; the crown then gradually passes 
through a streaky black stage into the full summer plumage. 
In the young the feathers of the upper parts are smoky- 
gray with a brown inner and a whitish-buff outer border. 
Bill in summer orange ; iris brown ; legs orange-red. In 
winter plumage the bill and legs are duller. 
Length 15 to 18 ; wing 11 ; tail 6-9°5 ; depth of fork 5-6 ; 
tarsus °8; bill from gape 2°3. 
Distribution.—Rather a doubtful inhabitant. Layard stated 
it was common in the north, but no one else appears to have 
met with it. A resident species on large rivers throughout 
India and Burma, extending as far east as Singapore. 
Habits —A river species, which should be looked for on the 
sand banks of our largest rivers and round our larger tanks. 

STERNA MELANOGASTER (Blanford, Vol. IV., p. 316). 
STERNA MELANOGASTRA (Legge, p. 1006). 
The Black-bellied Tern. 
Description —Summer: The forehead, crown, and nape 
down to the lower edge of the eye black; the lores, chin, 
cheeks, and throat white or nearly white ; the upper parts 
ashy-gray with a brown tinge on the wings ; the wing quills 
have the usual frosting, becoming dusky brown where it has 
worn off ; the tail is paler than the back ; the outer web of 
the outer tail feathers is white. The lower neck is pale gray, 
passing on the breast through chocolate to black, which 
continues from, the lower breast to the tail coverts ; wing 
lining white. 
In winter the lower parts are white, and the cap white 
streaked with black. 
Half-grown birds are mottled with brown and buff on the 
upper parts. 
Bill orange-yellow ; iris brown ; legs and feet orange-red. 
Length 13 ; wing 9; tail 5 ; depth of fork 3°5 ; tarsus °55 ; 
bill from gape 1°8. 
Distribution —Another rather doubtful inhabitant reported 
by early observers from the north of the Island, but probably 
