428 BIRDS OF BRITISH BURMAH. 



766. STEENA BERGII. 



THE LARGE CRESTED TERN. 



Sterna bergii, Licht. Verzeich. p. 80; Hume, Nests and Eggs,}*. 655; id. 8. F.i. 

 p. 283, iv. p. 470 ; Saunders, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 657 ; Butler, S. F. v. p. 298 ; 

 Hume fy Dav. S. F. vi. p. 493 ; Hume, 8. F. viii. p. 116 ; Parker, S. F. ix. p. 490; 

 Legge, Birds Ceylon, p. 1026 ; Hume, S. F. x. p. 247, note ; Kelham, Ibis, 1882, 

 p. 201 . Sterna cristata, Steph. in Shaw's Gen. Zool xiii. i. p. 146 ; Salvad. Ucc. 

 Born. p. 376. Sterna velox, Riipp. Atlas, p. 21, t. 13. Thalasseus cristatus, 

 " Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 842 j Bl. B. Btirm. p. 163. Thalasseus bergii, David et 

 Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 523. 



Description. Summer plumage. Crown, nape and lengthened occipital 

 crest black ; forehead, lores, cheeks, ear-coverts, the neck all round and 

 the whole lower plumage pure white ; upper plumage, wings and tail dark 

 grey ; the base of the lateral tail-feathers white ; shaft and interior half 

 of the inner web of the primaries white ; secondaries tipped and edged 

 inside with white ; the primaries tipped dark brown, and the other portion 

 more or less silvery grey. 



In winter the crown becomes white streaked with black, and the nape 

 and crest are dull black. 



Bill pale yellow ; legs and feet black, soles yellowish; irides deep brown. 

 (Butler.} 



Length about 21 inches, tail 7*5, wing 15, tarsus 1*3, bill from gape 3'6, 

 fork of tail about 3*5. 



The Large Crested Tern was observed by Mr. Davison along the coast 

 of the southern part of Tenasserim, and Mr. Hume states that it is common 

 at the mouth of the Bassein Creek. Mr. Shopland informs me that he has 

 met with it on the coast of Arrakan and that it breeds on Oyster Island. 



It is found along the whole east coast of Africa and throughout Southern 

 and Eastern Asia up to China, extending through the archipelago to 

 Australia and some of the islands of the Pacific Ocean. It appears to be 

 everywhere resident. 



This Large Tern is confined to the open sea and shores. Its eggs have 

 been found on the island of Astolah in the Gulf of Oman by Capt. Butler, 

 and at Adam's Bridge, Ceylon, by Mr. Parker. They are laid on the bare 

 rock or sand in May and June, and are described as being very beautiful. 

 In the former locality immense numbers of these Terns breed in company, 

 the sitting birds being closely packed together. 



