

STERNA. 721 



inder wing coverts white ; tail light grey, the feathers white shafted ; bill, legs 

 and feet black, the latter with sometimes a reddish tinge; irides dark brown. 



Length. 14*5 to i6*2 inches; wing 13 to 14*5 inches; reaching the tail by 

 rom 2-0 to 27 inches; bill at front r$ to 17; tarsus 1*5. 



In winter, the black head is replaced by a white grey streaked head, and a 

 Few dusky spots behind and round the eye. 



Hab. Sind, Beloochistan, Persia, Bengal, Rajputana, Kutch, the Concans, 

 ind Deccan. Has been recorded from Arracan and met with on the coast of 

 the Irrawady delta near Elephant Point and the mouth of the Bassein Creek. 

 Fects the large inland pieces of water, especially numerous on the Munchur 

 in Sind, and the salt water creeks in the deltaic districts. Arrives about 

 e middle of September and leaves about the third week in May. 



Gen. Sterna, Linn. 



Characters the same as Gelochelidon. Front toes united by indented web ; 

 lind toe short. 



1428. Sterna caspia, Pall, Nov. Comm. Petrop xiv. p. 582 ; Hume, 

 Sir. F. i. p. 280; Oates, Sir. F. iii. p. 347; Saunders, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 656; 



dresser, B. Eur. viii. p. 289, pi.; Hume, Sir. F. viii. p. 115; Parker, Sir. F. 

 ix. p. 487; Legge, B. Ceylon, p. 1008; Oates, Sir. F. x. p. 246; Murray, 

 Vert. ZooL, Sind, p. 427 ; Oates, B. Br. Burm. ii. p. 427. Sylochelidon 

 >ius, Jerd., B. Ind. ii. p. 835. The CASPIAN TERN. 



Summer Plumage. Crown of the head, nape and back of the neck and 

 ear coverts velvet black ; chin, throat, face, breast, the neck in front and 

 behind and entire under parts white; mantle, wings and tail pale blue grey or 

 pearl grey ; the first five or six primaries slaty grey, their shafts white ; under 

 wing coverts white. In winter the head is white with a few dark feathers on 

 the nape ; bill vermilion red, paler towards the tip ; irides brown ; legs and 

 feet black. 



Length. 18*0 to 2Cro inches ; wing i6'O to 17; tail 4*5 to 575; bill at 

 front 2-6 to 275 ; tarsus 1-5 to 175. 



Hab. Sind, Beloochistan Coast, Persian Gulf, the Punjab, N.-W. Provin- 

 ces and Oudh. Affects the sea-coasts, larger rivers, jheels, lakes and other 

 inland pieces of water. Breeds in N.-W. Ceylon, where Mr. Parker {Sir. F. 

 x. p. 487) found a colony breeding. 



1429. Sterna Bergii, Licht., Verzeich, p. 80 ; Hume, Nests and Eggs 

 Ind. B. p. 655 ; id., Sir. F. i. p. 283 ; iv. p. 470 ; Saunders, P. Z. S. 1876, 

 p. 657; Hume, Sir. F. viii. p. 1 16 ; Parker, Sir. F. ix. p. 490; Legge, B. 

 Ceylon,^. 102; Murray, Vert., ZooL, Sind, p. 322. Sterna cristata, Steph. in 

 Shaufs Gen. ZooL xiii. i. p. 146. Sterna velox, Rupp., Atlas p. 21, t. 13. 



VOL. II. 93 



