LARID.E. 63 



tipped with white ; shafts of the wings and tail white ; bill yellow ; irides black ; legs 

 and feet brownish-black." This bird abounds on the shores of Tasmania and New South 

 Wales. In the P. Z. S., 1864, Part I., January to March, is the following description 

 of this bird by Mr. Wodehouse (dated, " Eaiatea, 3rd September, 1863 "): — '" Otino ' 

 (S. polioccrca), White Reef-bird, also a species of Heron, as you will have seen. This 

 gentleman passes his time on the 'barrier-reef,' amidst the foam of the broken wave, 

 which brings with it from the ocean the small fish which constitute his food. His home 

 is, too, the ' wild palm ' of the ' green motu,' close to his beloved reef, on whose wave- 

 beaten surface he passes his life. I do not know how many eggs the female lays." 



The Torres Straits Tern {Sterna cristata) is closely allied to the two former. Mr. 

 Howard Saunders describes it under the heading of " Sterna maxima." Comparing it with 

 the Caspian Tern, Seebohm says it is a smaller and distinct species, and may be 

 distinguished by having the outer portion of the inner webs of the first six primaries 

 white. On the Australian voyage it would be seen along the West Coast of Africa, 

 near the line, and on the East Coast of Australia. 



The Southern Tern (Sterna melanoryhncha) is common off the shores of New Zealand, 

 It is S. frontalis of Mr. Howard Saunders. Space round eye and occiput black ; forehead, 

 sides of the neck, and under surface white ; upper surface, back, wings, and tail grey ; bill 

 black. Gould gives following dimensions : — Total length, 13 inches ; bill, 2 J ; wing, 9 J ; 

 tail, &\ ; tarsi, f . 



Sterna hirundinacea is described by Mr. Howard Saunders "as the largest and lightest in 

 colour of the medium-sized Sea Terns ; and the entire bill (which is long and powerful) is 

 bright red in the adult." On the homeward voyage round the Horn it should be looked 

 out for off the Falklands. 



Sterna vittata is very similar to above, only smaller. It frequents St. Paul's Island 

 and Kerguelen Island. 



Sterna virgata also frequents Kerguelen Island. Mr. Howard Saunders says : — " The 

 bill is rich blood-red, and the feet are red." 



Sterna antarctica is thus described by Mr. Howard Saunders : — " This species, of a nearly 

 uniform smoke-grey colour, appears to be confined to New Zealand, and principally to 

 the South Island, where it deposits its eggs on the bare ground, making no nest. The 

 bill and feet are orange." 



