— 103 — 



Length about 9j inclies. Crown and nape black. Upper 

 parts slate grey. Under parts leaden grey almost black. Under 

 wing coverts and under tail coverts white. Axillaries leaden grey. 

 Sexes similar, but the female is slightly paler. Adults in winter 

 are pure white below, with a white forehead ; hind crown and 

 centre of nape black. Upper parts pearl grey. Bill black; 

 legs and feet reddish brown. 



402. White-winged Black Tern. Hydrochelidon leucoptera 



(Temminck). 



Hydrochelidon nigra. Shelley, p. 30]. 



The most abundant of the marsh terns in spring and autumn. 

 It is apparently absent from Egypt during winter, but it is 

 probable that some breed in the country. 



Length about 9| inches. Head, neck, throat and breast, and 

 belly deep glossy black ; mantle dark slate colour. Lower 

 back, rump and tail white ; edges of wing pure white, as are 

 also under wing coverts and axillaries. Bill livid red; legs 

 and feet orange red. The female is somewhat less pure in 

 coloration. 



Adults in winter are pale pearl grey above and white below ; 

 forepart of crown and the nape white mottled with black. 

 In winter plumage the present species much resembles the 

 black tern at the same season, but the narrow, slender bill of 

 the latter serves to distinguish it. 



403. Whiskered Tern. Hydrochelidon leucopareia (Temminck). 



Hydrochelidon leucopareia. Shelley, p. 301. 



Abundant on spring migration, and a few may possibly remain 

 to breed. In autumn it is apparently far less numerous. 



Length about lOj inches. Upper parts light slatey grey. 

 Crown and nape black. Under parts dark smoky grey, darker 

 on the abdomen. Bill blood red ; legs and feet vermilion or 

 orange red. In winter the adults are white below, the upper 

 parts ^re paler, and the black on the head is restricted to spots 

 on the hind crown and nape. 



404. Lesser Sooty Tern. Sterna ancestheta Scopoli. 



Not mentioned by Shelley. 



Apparently a straggler to the Red Sea coast and islands 

 within the Egyptian boundaries. 



