STERNA MEDIA 353 



This Tern appears to be somewhat uncommon, and more or less 

 irregular in its occurence in Tunisia. I have but one example of it 

 from the Regency, obtained at Djerba in the month of July. 

 According to Blanc, however, the species, though never abundant, is 

 fairly plentiful in some years, and breeds in the south of the Regency, 

 together with other Terns. It is also to be found in the north near 

 Bizerta and Tunis, and generally in company with the Sandwich 

 Tern. 



Loche states that the species is of accidental occurrence in Algeria, 

 and Colonel Irby records it from Tarifa and Tangier. According to 

 Favier the species is one of the least common of the Terns near 

 Tangier, though more frequently seen further south in Marocco, near 

 Larache. 



The range of the Allied Tern extends along the North African 

 coast from Marocco to Egypt, down the east coast of Africa as far 

 as Madagascar, to the Persian Gulf, the Indian Ocean, and through 

 the Malay Archipelago to North Australia. It is only a rare straggler 

 to Europe, birt has twice been captured in Sicily, once near Syracuse 

 and once near Messina. 



In its habits the present species most nearly resembles the Sand- 

 wich Tern (S. cantiaca), and is often to be found associating with that 

 species. It is very gregarious, and in countries where it is plentiful, 

 as in India and some other parts of the Asiatic Continent, collects 

 together in vast numbers. 



In its flight, notes and food it does not seem to differ from the 

 above species, which it also resembles in its nesting habits. Its eggs, 

 two or three in number, are deposited in a slight depression in the 

 ground, and are generally of a pale buff-colour, with underlying light 

 grey marks and dark brown surface-spots and blotches. The eggs 

 measure about 55 x 35 mm. 



23 VOL. 11. 



