312 LARIDE. 



Sterna nilotica, apud Hume, S. F. i, p. 281 ; Adam, ibid. p. 403 ; 

 , S. F. iv, p. 31 ; v, p. 235 ; Armstrong, S. F. iv, p. 351. 



Coloration. In summer plumage the forehead, crown, and nape, 

 with the upper lores and the sides of the head as far down as the 

 lower edge of the orbit, are jet-black ; upper parts from nape 

 pale pearl-grey, inner webs of primaries darker; lower lores, 

 cheeks, and the lower parts throughout, including the wing-lining, 

 white. 



In winter the upper part of the head is white streaked with 

 black, the remainder as in summer.. Young birds have the crown 

 grey or white mixed with grey, primaries dark ; and in very young 

 birds the feathers of the upper plumage, especially the scapulars 

 and tertiaries, are brown in part with buff edges. 



Bill, legs, and feet black ; iricles brown. In summer the bill 

 and legs are tinged with red. 



Length 15 ; tail 5 to 5'5, depth of fork 1-5 ; wing 12'5 ; 

 tarsus 1*4 ; bill from gape 2. Females are rather smaller. 



Distribution. Europe as far north as lat. 55 in summer, Northern 

 Africa, Atlantic coast of America, temperate and tropical Asia, 

 Malay Archipelago, and Australia. Chiefly a winter visitor to 

 India and Ceylon, where it is common in suitable localities ; it is 

 apparently restricted to estuaries and the coast in Burma. 



Habits, 6fc. In India and Ceylon this Tern is found about all large 

 rivers and extensive marshes or tanks ; it also occurs on the sea- 

 coast. It feeds both on aquatic food and on insects. The great 

 majority of birds of this species leave India to breed, but Hume 

 took an egg on the Chenab, in the N.W. Punjab, on April 28th. 

 Numbers were found breeding at the head of the Persian Gulf 

 early in April. The eggs, three in number, are of the usual type, 

 and measure about 2 by 1*46. 



1500. Sterna cantiaca. The Sandwich Te.rn. 



Sterna cantiaca, Gm. Syst. Nat. i, p. 606 (1788) ; Hume, S. F. i, 

 p. 285 ; id. Cat. no. 990 bis : Blcmford, Eastern Persia, ii, p. 294 ; 

 Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 432 ; id. Jour. Bom. N. H. Soc. vi, p. 300 ; 

 Saunders, Cat. B. M. xxv, p. 75. 



Coloration. In breeding plumage the forehead, upper lores, 

 crown, nape, and sides of head as far down as the lower edge of 

 the orbits are black ; back and wings pearl-grey ; lower lores, 

 cheeks, a collar round neck, all the lower parts, upper and lower 

 tail-coverts, and tail white ; inner webs of primaries dark grey 

 near the shafts, white inside, the inner white border extending to 

 the tip of each feather, outer web of 1st primary blackish near 

 base. In fresh plumage there is a slight and evanescent pink 

 tinge to the underparts. The black head is only assumed from 

 April till about June. 



In non-breeding plumage the forehead and crown are white 

 with black streaks, which are confluent on the nape and before 

 and behind the eye. Immature birds resemble adults in winter 



