171 



row, crimson. Length, inclusive of tiiU, 22 to 23 inches ; tail 

 6 inches. Sexes alike. The only spot of white on the bird is 

 at the chin. Very numerous in Dukhun, appearing in the 

 rivers in flocks of hundreds. Fish (some 3 inches long) and 

 prawns found in the stomach of many birds ; aiso capillary 

 worras. Colonel Sykes remarks, that the generic character, 

 "Face and throat naked" is inapplicable to this species. 



Genus Plotus, Linn. Darter. 



228. Plotus melanogasterf Gme], \ . 580. Anhinga noir du Senegal, 



ButF., Ois. S.-ISS. PI. Enl. 960 & 107. Black-billed Darter, 



called the Snake-bu-d in Dukhun, 

 Irides bright yellovv. Length, inclusive of tail, 37| inches; tail 

 94 inches. Solitary. Rare in Dukhun, but frequently met 

 with below the Ghauts. This bird has the singular faculty of 

 being enabled to swim with the vvhole of its body under vvater, 

 the long neck and head alone being visible, looking likę a snake. 

 Colonel Sykes's limits do not permit him to enlarge on the 

 very peculiar formation of the stomach, more resembling that 

 of a ruminant than a bird. Seven small carp and much deep- 

 green vegetable fibre were found in the stomach of a female. 



Fam. LaridcB, Leach. — Genus Slėnia, Linn. Terji. 



229. Sterna acuticauda, Gray, Illust. Ind. Zool., part6. fig.3. Small 



yelloto-billed Tern. Sterna melanogaster, Temm., PI, 001.434? 

 Irides reddish deep brown. Length, inclusive of tail, \3į to 14^ 

 inches ; tail 6f to 7 inches, very forked and acute ; the lateral 

 feathers being subulate. Fish found in the stomach. Although 

 the u'ings are so long, the flight is slow and with a good deal 

 of flapping. Take their prey while on the vving by darting ob- 

 liquely upon it. Do not dip under water, nor dart perpen- 

 dicularly, likę Alcedo rudis. This elegant and slender species 

 Colonel Sykes shot 160 miles inland, and at an elevation of 

 1800 feet above the sea. Gregarious. Common in Dukhun. 



230. Sterna siviilis, Gray, Illust. Ind. Zool., part 6. plate 8. fig. 2. 



Tern voitk ajiiscous lahe-coloured bill. 

 Length, inclusive of tail, llį to 12 inches; tail SfV to 3-iV inches; 

 slightl}' forked, and without the lateral, elongated, and subulate 

 feathers of Sterna acuticauda. Fish only found in the stomach. 

 Gregarious. Habits and locality of the lašt species. Colonel 

 Sykes statės it as curious, that all his specimens, seven in num- 

 ber, of Sterna acuticauda and Sterna similis proved to be fe- 

 males. Common in Dukhun. 



231. Stekna Seena. Sterna supr a cinerea ; fronte, vertice, ceroi- 



ceąue saturate nitide atris ; corpore infra albo, hypochondriis 



pariim cinereo tinctis ; rectricibus lateralibus albis. 



Irides saturate rufescenti-brunneae. Rostrum forte, flavum. 



Pedes rubri. Longitudo (cauda inclusa) 17 — I7į unc, 



caudce 8 — S\, rietus 2iV. 



This species differs from Sterna affinis of Ruppell, tab. 14. p. 23, 



in its smailei size, and having red instead of black legs; in the 



