STERNID^ STERNA 443 



Description. Adult in breeding plumage. Forehead, lore-, crown 

 and nape black, rest of the upper parts pale lavender- grey, outer 

 webs and outer halves of inner webs of the three outer primaries 

 dark grey, shafts and inner halves of the inner webs white ; 

 below white, slightly washed with pearly on the breast. 



Iris dark brown ; bill black ; legs and feet yellowish. 



Length about 8-5; wing 6'70 ; tail 2-60; depth of fork 1-0; 

 culmen 1-1 ; tarsus -55. 



In non-breeding plumage the black of the head is mottled and 

 flecked with white. The young bird has the wing-coverts slightly 

 darker and the lower mandible horn-colour. 



Distribution. The Damara Tern is found along the south-west 

 coasts of Africa from Loango to Table Bay ; it was first obtained by 

 Andersson at Walvisch Bay, where it breeds ; Layard and sub- 

 sequent collectors have met with it on Robben Island off Table 

 Bay in the months of March and November, in the former case 

 in non-breeding, in the latter in breeding plumage. It has not 

 been definitely recorded from the southern coasts of the Colony, 

 or from elsewhere along the South African coast-line. 



Habits. Andersson states that at Walvisch Bay, where it is 

 very abundant, this little Tern flies in pairs or small flocks, uttering 

 harsh and rapid cries. It feeds on small fishes and Crustacea, in 

 search of which it explores the creeks and shallows left by the 

 receding tide. It is swift of flight and rapid of movement. Anders- 

 son found this bird breeding at Walvisch Bay, the eggs being 

 deposited in a small hole scooped in the sand. 



768. Sterna minuta. Little Tern. 



Sterna minuta, Linn. Si/st. Nat. 12th ed. i, p. 228 (1766) ; Dresser, B. 

 Eur. viii, p. 279, pi. 582 (1876) ; Sliarpe, ed. Layard's B. S. Afr. 

 p. 705 (1884) ; Saunders, Cat. B. M. xxv, p. 116 (1896) ; Shelley, 

 B. Afr. i, p. 163 (1896) ; Beichenow, Vog. Afr. i, p. 66 (1900). 



Description. Adult Female in breeding plumage. Forehead as 

 far as the eye white, lores, crown and nape black, rest of the upper 

 surface a pearly-grey, becoming whiter on the rump and tail, the 

 outer feathers of which are quite white ; the shafts of the outer two 

 primaries blackish, the webs generally also dusky ; below white 

 throughout. 



Bill yellow tipped with black ; legs orange-yellow. 



