South India. Crisfafus, has a long, slender, compressed bill. In 
size it is about 17 inches; back, wing and tail are silvery-grey, 
edges of secondary feathers white ; quills dark tipped grey ; head 
and crest glossy-black ; rest of the plumage is silky-white, chiefly 
sides of the head, nape, and under-part of the body. 
OCEANIC TERNS 
Are met with in Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean, and some in the 
Red Sea. Their bill is black, long and slender; wings long; feet 
well webbed ; moderately sized tail, slightly forked. 
(991) ONYCHOPRION MELANAUCHEN, JSlack-naped Ocean Tern, 
is met with near the east coast ; in the Bay and adjacent country ; 
but it is not found far inland. A/clanauchen is 12 inches long ; 
bill and feet black ; upper plumage grey ; head white; hind neck 
black, also line from side of the head to nape ; primary quills are 
erey ; lower plumage is white. These Terns migrate but little. 
They usually breed along with a few other species of Water-birds, 
on smaller islands in the Bay. 
Genus Ruyncuors (Skimmers) are, perhaps, the most interest- 
ing birds of this large family of Water-birds. They differ from the 
former groups in many respects. In bill not a little. Upper 
mandible is shorter than the lower, which construction is uncommon, 
among birds generally ; bill is much compressed, long and straight, 
tip truncated in appearance and comes to a fine point, more or less 
flexible ; wings long ; feet short ; toes with free webs (excised). 
(995) RHYNCHOPS ALBICOLLIS, Indian Skimmer. This remark- 
able bird is frequently met with in the plains, flying with a swift 
easy, skimming flight over the water. At times found singly, on 
other occasions, congregated in companies of twenty or more. Over 
a broad expanse of water, they usually pass backwards and forwards, 
skimming close to the surface ; now and then dipping their bills into 
the water as they fly, as though they were ploughing through the 
edge. This apparent diversion of cutting the surface of the water 
has puzzled many an observer, who attributes it to the facination it 
gives them of troubling the still, silent waters. At the same time 
they are at a loss to suggest what Skimmers eat. Lthynchops has a 
restricted diet. It feeds on the oily, or fatty substance, which is 
found floating on the top of most jhils, or more turbid water-courses 
in the plains. As it flies it scoops up between its mandibles, not 
unlike a dredge, the desired nurishment. What water, which gets 
shot up in the execution of this labour, gets released at gape of the 
mandibles. It has not been definitely ascertained, where this 
substance is generated, and in what manner it finds its way, to where 
