400 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



procure its eggs, wliicli are said to be two in number, and to 

 be deposited on the ground in a slight hollow among the 

 loose coral ridges. 



I regret to say that to this meagre account I have nothing 

 to add, as I did not meet with the species myself, neither 

 have I seen or received specimens from any other locality. 



Crown of the head and back of the neck rich deep black ; 

 all the upper surface, wings, and tail silvery grey ; sides of 

 the neck and all the under surface white, with a blush of 

 rose-colour on the breast and centre of the abdomen ; shafts 

 of the primaries white, their outer webs slaty black, and a 

 narrow stripe of dark slate-colour along the inner web close 

 to the stem ; irides brownish red ; bill red ; feet orange-red ; 

 nails black. 



Sp. 006. STERNA MELANAUCHEN, Temm. 



Black-naped Tern. 



Sterna melanauchen, Temm. PI. Col., 427. 



smnatrana, Raff. 



Sternula melanauchen, Bonap. Compt. Reucl. de I'Acad. Sci., torn. xli. 



Sterna melanauchen, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vii. 

 pi. 28. 



Although this species has been figured by Temminck in 

 his valuable "Planches Coloriees," it becomes necessary to 

 include a description of it in the present work, in consequence 

 of its being a frequent visitor to the northern shores of Au- 

 stralia. Lesson states that it is found in the Celebes and on 

 most of the Moluccas ; and there is but little doubt that 

 its range extends over the whole of the Indian Archipelago. 

 It is about the size of the Common Tern {Sterna Jiirundo) of 

 Europe, is one of the most beautiful species yet discovered, 

 and is distinguished from all the other members of its genus 

 by the snowy whiteness of its crown, and by the deep gorget- 

 shaped black mark at the occiput. J 



