STERNIN.E. 429 



Sterna seena, Sykes. 



985. Seena aurantia, Gray. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, 

 p. 838 ; Butler, Guzerat ; Stray Feathers, Vol. IV, p. 32 ; 

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

 brate Zoology of Sind, p. 323 ; Swinhoe and Barnes, Cen- 

 tral India ; Ibis, 1885, p. 135. 



THE LAKGE RIVER TERN. 



Length, 15 to 16 ; expanse, 34 ; wing, 11 ; tail, 7'5 ; tarsus, 

 1 ; bill at front, 1'5. 



Bill bright deep yellow ; irides brown ; legs red. 



Whole head above glossy-black ; upper plumage pale grey ; 

 tail with the lateral feathers white ; whole lower plumage white, 

 the flanks tinged with ashy. 



The Large River Tern (with the exception perhaps of the 

 Deccan, where its occurrence appears doubtful), occurs more or 

 less commonly in the cold season throughout the district. A 

 few at all events remain to breed, as I have found eggs, both 

 in Sind and Central India, during April and May. They are 

 deposited in slight depressions in the sandy bed or banks of 

 rivers ; there is no nest. The eggs, four in number, are broadish 

 ovals in shape, and are of a buffy or greenish stone color, spotted 

 and streaked, more especially at the larger end, with deep brown 

 and underlying spots of pale inky-purple. 



They measure 1'65 inches in length by about 1'25 in breadth. 



Sterna melanogastra, Tern. 



987. 8. javanica, Hors. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, 



&840 ; Butler, Deccan ; Stray Feathers, Vol. IX, p. 440 ; 

 urray's Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, p. 323 ; Swinhoe and 



Barnes, Central India ; Ibis, 1885, p. 138. 



THE BLACK-BELLIED TERN. 



Length, 12 ; expanse, 26 ; wing, 9 ; tail, 6 ; tarsus, 1 ; bill at 

 front, 1-48. 



Bill orange-yellow ; irides brown ; legs and feet vermilion red. 



Head and nape black ; neck, mantle, wings and tail, light-grey ; 

 face, lores and ear-coverts, white ; chin and throat white ; neck 

 and breast light pearl-grey ; abdomen, vent, and under tail-coverts 

 brown-black. 



In winter plumage the head is mixed with dusky, and the 

 abdomen is pearly-grey instead of black. 



The Black-bellied Tern is a more or less common permanent 

 resident throughout the region. Major Butler does not appear to 

 have met with it in Northern Guzerat, but I cannot help thinking 

 that he has passed over it. They breed during March and April, 

 depositing their eggs in mere depressions in the sand, close to 

 the water. The eggs, three or four in number, are moderately 

 oval in shape, of a buffy ground color, spotted and streaked with 

 purplish-brown, They measure 1*33 by 0'99. 



