THE BLACK-NAPED TERN. fc29 



767. STERNA MELANAUCHEN. 

 THE BLACK-NAPED TERN. 



Sterna melanauchen, Tentm. PL Col. 427 ; Mwndt'i'*, 1'. /. tf. 1#76, p. G61 ; David 

 et Ottst. Ois. CJiine, p. o2>; lIiunc,K. F, \. p. :{2o. Onychoprion melanau- 

 chen, Jcrtl I>, Ind ii. p. 844. Sternula melanauchen, /////,<,-, AV.sYx ,/W 

 !%.>. p. (;")<;; />/. ,v. 7''. ii. p. :J19. Onychoprion sumatrana (Raffl.}, Salrad. 

 Ucc. Born. p. 374. Sterna sumatrana (Raffi.), Hume fy Dav. S. F. vi. p. J'.'.J ; 

 limn,; .V. .F. viii. p. 116, x. p. 247, note ; Kelham, lli* t 1**2, p. 202. 



Description. 3f/e // female. The whole plumage white, the back, 

 wings and tail tinged with grey ; outer web of the first primary dark grey ; 

 a band commencing on the lores, passing through the eye and widening out 

 to form a large triangular patch on the back of the neck, black. In fresh 

 birds and in skins which are not very old the whole of the white parts of 

 the plumage are suffused with roseate. As far as I am aware there 

 is no seasonal change of plumage. 



Bill black, the extreme points of both mandibles pale yellowish horny ; 

 feet black ; irides wood-brown. (Hume.} 



Length about 14 inches, tail 6, wing 8*6, tarsus 7, bill from gape 2*1, 

 fork of the tail about 3'5. 



The Black-naped Tern was noticed by Mr. Davison off the mouth of the 

 Laynah Creek in Tenasserim ; and Mr. Hume states that he has received it 

 from the mouth of the Bassein Creek. It is likely to be met with along 

 the whole coast of the Province. 



It is found from the Andamans throughout the Malay peninsula and 

 archipelago to Australia and New Caledonia, and it ranges up the Chinese 

 coast to Amoy. It is resident in places where it occurs, and it breeds at 

 the Andamans, on the Chinese coast and many other localities. 



It seems very doubtful to which species of these small Terns Sterna 

 xtnttatrana of Raffles is applicable. Mr. Hume is of opinion that this 

 name is referable to the present species ; and Mr Howard Saunders, on the 

 other hand, is of opinion that it properly applies to the small Tern which 

 Mr. Hume has recently named S. saundersi. It will, I think, always 

 remain ;i matter for dispute, for Raifles's description applies equally well to 

 either species. 



Mr. Hume found this Tern breeding near Port Blair in the Andamans 

 in July and August 



