Birds of the Jhelum District. 109 



[Feet yellow, claws black; bill dull yellow, blackish at 

 tip. 



A juvenile bird just coramencing body-moult. The adult 

 has the iris dark brown, feet coral-red, and is moulting all 

 over.— C. B. T.'\ 



1504, Sterna melanogaster. The Black-bellied Tern. 



699,700,701.30.4.1913. Jhelum. c?, c?, c? • Wing 215, 



220, 227 mm. 

 . 725. 11.5.1913. Jhelum. S- Wing 218 mm. 

 763.16.6.1913. „ <S - „ 207 mm. (worn). 



765. 19.6.1913. „ „ 228 mm. 



909. 28.10.1913. „ ? . „ 236 mm. 



975. 12.1.1914. „ ? . „ 240 mm. 



1357. 30.3.1914. „ ? . „ 224 mm. 



A very common resident, breeding on the sand-banks of 

 the river in March and April. The statement that the 

 winter plumage consists in the cap being white with a few 

 black streaks, and the lower parts white does not appear to 

 be correct. Birds in the supposed winter plumage were 

 almost entirely noticed from May until August, whereas 

 practically every bird noticed in the winter (and I paid 

 especial attention to this) had a black cap and belly. The 

 change will probably be found to be one of age and not 

 season. 



[From Mr. Whistler's remarks it appears that the 

 plumages of this species are not rightly understood, and 

 unfortunately his specimens do not entirely clear the matter 

 up. That some birds in winter plumage have the head and 

 belly black is clear from his statement, and is borne out by 

 the October adult bird, which has just completed a full 

 moult, and has the crown, belly, and under tail-coverts pure 

 black. The January and April birds are in similar plumage, 

 but slightly worn. The March bird has old worn brown 

 leathers with grey edges on the crown, amongst which new 

 black feathers are appearing ; new pearl-grey feathers on 

 mantle, belly, and under tail-coverts ; old, worn feathers 

 (white), amongst which are one or two odd black feathers. 



