258 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
webs. The long outside pair of tail feathers are white, darken- 
ing to gray-brown on the inner webs towards the tip. The 
cheeks and lower parts are white, with a sooty tinge on the 
breast, abdomen, and flanks. In winter for a short while the 
feathers of the lores and crown are mottled with white. 
Immature birds are whiter on the head, the feathers on the 
back are grayer with whitish edges, and there is less white on 
the outer pair of tail feathers. 
Bill, legs, and feet black ; iris deep brown. 
Length 14°5 ; wing 10; tail 6-7, depth of fork 3-4 ; tarsus 
*8; bill from gape 2. 
Distribution Numerous on the coast at intervals, especially 
after high winds ; found all round the Indian and Burmese 
coasts and on the outlying islands, its range extending through- 
out the tropics. 
Habits—An oceanic species, often seen far from land, and 
breeding on islands, such as the Laccadives. During high 
winds they appear on shore, probably having been driven 
by the weather from the open sea. 
STERNA FULIGINOSA (Blanford, Vol. IV., p. 324; 
Legge, p. 1036). 
The Sooty Tern. 
Description.—Similar to that of the last species, but larger 
and darker. The white arrow-shaped patch on the forehead 
is broader, but does not run so far back, stopping above the 
middle of the eye, while the black stripe in front of the eye 
runs down more obliquely to near the gape of the bill. The 
upper plumage is sooty-black, the lower parts white with a 
grayish tinge on the abdomen and lower tail coverts. In 
winter the lores and crown become flecked with white. 
Immature birds are sooty-brown above, the feathers with 
white tips, which are broadest on the wing coverts and terti- 
aries ; the under parts are slightly paler brown than the 
upper plumage, the vent being grayish. 
Bill, legs, and feet black ; iris almost black. 
Length 17; wing 11°5; tail 6°5-7°5; depth of fork 3°5- 
4°5; tarsus ‘9; bill from gape 2°3. 
