428 STERNIN^E. 



pointed ; tail short and even, or long and forked ; tarsus short and 

 slender ; toes short, webbed. 



GENUS, Sterna, Lin. 



Nostrils with plumes reaching to the opening ; first quills 

 longest ; tail forked ; tarsus rather long ; bill moderate ; culmen- 

 slightly curved, and with a projecting angle. 



Sterna caspia, Pall. 



982. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 855 ; Butler, Deccan ; 



Stray Feathers, Vol. IX, p. 439 ; Murray's Vertebrate Zoology 



of Sind, p. 322. 



THE CASPIAN TEEN. 



Length, 18 to 20 ; expanse, 49 ; wing, 16 ; tail, 4*5 to 5 ; tarsus, 

 175 ; bill at front, 275. 



Bill coral red ; irides brown ; legs and feet black. 



In summer, head above, nape, and ear-coverts, pure black ; 

 mantle, wings, and tail, pearl-grey ; some of the first primaries 

 dark- edged and tipped ; back of neck and lower plumage 

 white. 



In winter, the head is white, the occiput marked with nume- 

 rous black streaks. 



The Caspian Tern is not uncommon during the cold weather 

 on the Sind coast ; it is much less common further south, 

 but extends as far as Bombay, whence Mr. Hume records a 

 specimen. 



It is also found inland on some of the larger lakes and 

 j heels. 



Sterna anglica, Mont. 



983. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 836 ; S. nilatica, 

 Hass. ; Butler, Guzerat ; Stray Feathers, Vol. IV, p. 31 ; 

 Deccan, Stray Feathers, Vol. IX, p. 440 ; Murray's Vertebrate 

 Zoology of Sind, p. 320. 



THE GULL-BILLED TERN. 



Length, 14 to 16 ; expanse, 38 to 40 ; wing, 13 to 14'5 ; tail, 5 

 to 6 ; tarsus, 1'5 ;bill at front, 1'5. 



Bill black ; irides dark brown ; legs black. 



In summer, the forehead, crown, and nape, deep black ; mantle, 

 wings, and tail, light grey, paling on the tail ; quills hoary-grey ; 

 the first five primaries tipped with dusky on their inner webs ; 

 sides of the head and plumage beneath pure white. 



In winter, the head is white with grey streaks, the ear-coverts 

 and (more or less) round the eyes dusky. 



The young is somewhat similar to the adult in winter plumage, 

 but has the primaries all dusky grey. 



The Gull-billed Tern is very common during the cold season 

 in suitable places throughout the region. It is very doubtful 

 whether any of them remain to breed. 



