360 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



Bescription. — Adult male, spring, from Tunis, Nortli Tunisia. 



Almost the whole of the plumage above and below black, the rump, tail, 

 edge of the wing and lesser upper wing-coverts white ; the remaining upper 

 wing-coverts and the secondaries grey ; primaries dark grey, with whitish 

 margins on their inner webs ; crissum and under tailcoverts white ; under 

 wing-coverts and axillaries black ; toes only slightly webbed. 



Iris dark brown ; bill violet-brown ; feet coral-red. 



Total length 9-50 inches, wing 8-40, culmen 1-10, tarsus -70. 



Adult female similar to the male, but rather smaller. 



This small Tern is the least common of the three members of the 

 genus, but may be met with not unfrequently in Tunisia during the 

 periods of passage. On the shores of the Lake of Tunis and similar 

 localities on or near the east coast it may often he observed, but there 

 appears to be no instance of its breeding in the Kegency. 



According to Loche it is common in Algeria, both on the coast, 

 and on the great lakes, where it breeds, but in Marocco it is, 

 apparently, by no means abundant, and Colonel Irby states that the 

 only instance he knew of its occurrence was that of a single specimen 

 shot in May, 1869, at Sharf el Akab, near Tangier. 



The species is no doubt less numerous in the west of the Mediter- 

 ranean basin than in the east; in North-east Africa it is fairly plentiful 

 and breeds, migrating in winter to South Africa. In Europe it is 

 abundant in the south-eastern and central parts, but only occurs as 

 a wanderer in the more northern regions. In Asia it ranges from 

 the Caspian eastward to China, and has been met with in Ceylon, 

 Australia and New Zealand. It has also been recorded from America. 

 The present species is very gregarious, and may often be found 

 consorting with allied species, as well as with its own kind, and even 

 breeding among colonies of the Black Tern. It is chiefly an inland 

 species, frequenting marshes and fresh-water pools, though, when on 

 passage, it is found quite as often on the sea-coast and localities 

 adjoining the sea. 



Though not quite so tame and confiding as the Black Tern, the 

 present species may at times be easily approached, and appears to 

 have but little fear of the native labourers who may be working in 

 the vicinity of its feeding-grounds. Its flight is very swift, and the 

 bird seems to be more agile and active than its congeners. In its 

 notes and food, however, it more or less resembles them. 



