510 RARE BRITISH BIRDS 



LESSER SOOTY-TERN [Sterna (imi'Metu- Scopoli]. 



1. Description. Differs from S. fidiginoxa in having the mantle umber-brown instead of 

 black. Length 14 in. [355 mm.]. A band of white across the forehead is continued backwards 

 over the eyes ; top of the head and lores deep black ; a white collar surrounds the hind neck ; 

 mantle, back, rump, and middle tail feathers umber-brown ; wings black above, white below ; 

 entire under surface white. The winter diners from the summer plumage in that the top of 

 the head is black, each feather fringed with white, and the forehead is uniform white. The 

 young bird has the umber- brown feathers of the upper part margined with golden buff, the wings 

 black above, greyish white below, and the whole of the under parts white, [w. p. p. and T. w.] 



2. Distribution. This species also breeds in colonies in the tropical seas, and colonies exist 

 in the Bahamas, Honduras, and West Indies, off the coasts of West Africa, the Red Sea, Persian 

 Gulf, Zanzibar coast, Madagascar, and Mascarene Isles, shores of the Indian Ocean, Malay 

 Archipelago, Australia (Houtman's Abrolhos, Rottnest Island, Torres Strait, and Queensland), 

 and at many stations in the Pacific. The local forms of this species require further study. 

 One alleged occurrence in England, at the mouth of the Thames, Sept. 1875, requires confirma- 

 tion. 



[NODDY [Anous stolidus (Linnseus)]. Two specimens said to have been obtained in 

 Ireland about 1830. The species is not regarded by Mr. Ussher as entitled to a place in the 

 Irish list. [F. c. R. J.]] 



THE GULLS 1 



[ORDER: Ckaradriifwmes. FAMILY: Laridce. SUBFAMILY: Larinai] 



SABINE'S GULL [Xema sabini (Sabine). French, moiicttc de Sabin? ; German, f/nbel- 

 schiuanzige Move]. 



1. Description. Distinguished at all ages by the distinctly forked tail. The adult in 

 nuptial plumage has a grey-brown cap with a deep black collar encircling the lower part of the 

 neck. Mantle, lower back, scapulars, and wing-coverts dark grey; neck, rump, tail, and under 

 parts pure white ; primaries for the greater part black, tipped with white, inner primaries and 

 secondaries white; iris dark brown; bill black to the angle, chrome-yellow anteriorly ; inside of 

 mouth vermilion ; a dark vermilion ring round the eye, with a minute spot of white below ; legs 

 and feet black. Length 13 in. [331 mm.]. After the autumn moult the head is white, with 

 a black patch on the back of the neck and ear-coverts. The young bird has the feathers of the 

 upper parts and sides of the chest ash-grey edged with yellowish buff, remainder of the under 

 parts white ; tail pure white, barred at the extremity with deep black ; primary flight-feathers 

 black, innermost secondaries white, [w. p. p. and T. w.] 



2. Distribution. An Arctic species, breeding on the northern coasts and islands of North 

 America from Alaska to Baffin's Bay and Greenland, and on the Arctic islands of Europe and 

 Western Asia. Among American breeding-places may be mentioned North Alaska, Franklin 

 and Liverpool Bays, Southampton Island, Melville Peninsula, Cambridge Bay, Prince Albert's 

 Land, West Greenland (lat. 75) and N.E. Greenland. In the Old World it nests on 

 Spitsbergen, on the Taimyr Peninsula, and in the Lena delta. In winter it has been met with 

 almost regularly in the British Isles, and also south to France, Germany, Holland, Denmark, 

 Austro-Hungary, and Switzerland ; while in America it ranges south to Bermuda, Texas, and 

 lat. 12 S. on the Pacific side, and has occurred in Peru. [F. c. R. j.] 



1 Vol. iii. p. 114. 



