370 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



accords better with Swainson's S. Senegafensis. (Nat. Lib,, Vol. 12, p. 

 258.) I have killed many specimens at all times of the year, but have 

 never detected the slightest rosy tint on any one of them. It is very 

 common, seeking its prey along the edge of the surf or on the marsn 

 at the mouth of Salt Hiver. 



686. Sterna Cantiaca, Gmei. Sys. Nat. i, 606 ; st 



Boysii, Lath. Ind. Orn. II, 806 ; Thalasseus Cantia- 

 cus, Bonap. Consp. List, 61; S. Africana, Gmel. ; 

 Gould's Birds of Eur., PI 415; Sandwich Tern, 

 Bewick's Birds of Eur., p. 177. 



6 : Above, throughout, pale pearl- grey, rather darker on the 

 wing-feathers ; tail white, and deeply forked ; on top of the 

 head, from the bill, including the eye, and down the back of 

 the head, a black hood, ending in a point on the back of the 

 neck ; bill long and narrow, black, with the tip yellow horn- 

 colour ; legs and feet black. 9 as the male, but the black 

 on the top of the head replaced by black speckles ; forehead 

 white. Length, 15" ; wing, 12" 2'" ; tail (to the end of 

 centre feather), 4". 



Pretty common throughout the seaboard. In habits they resemble 

 the next species, with which they associate. 



687. Sterna Bergii, Licht. Verz. 1823, p. so, NO. 



833; Sterna Velox, Kupp. Atlas, t. 13, p. 31 ; nee. 

 St. Bergii, Reichenbach ; nee. Hartlaub. ; Schlegel. 

 Mus. des Pays-bas, Sternse, p. 11. 



5: General colour above, rather dark pearl- gr ey ; darkest 

 on the wing-feathers ; under parts, and lower part of the 

 neck, pure white ; forehead white ; top of head, including the 

 eye, and crest in $ , jet-black ; in the 9 this is replaced by 

 black speckles ; tail very deeply forked ; bill, rich lemon - 

 coloured; iris brown. Length (to centre of tail), 16 J" ; 

 wing, 15" ; tail 4J" ; outside feathers, 8". 



The " Swift Tern " is, perhaps, our commonest species, appearing in 

 large flocks in Table Bay throughout the year. It breeds on the 

 islands to the North- Westward. Lays two eggs of a rich cream - 

 colour, dotted, blotched, and streaked, with very dark-brown and 

 purple : axis, 2" 5'" ; diam., I" T". The running of the smaller spots 

 into streaks at once seems to identify the eggs of this species from 

 those of others that may breed here. 



It feeds on small fish and crustaceans, the former of which it 

 captures by dropping upon them from a considerable height ; the latter 

 it either gathers in a graceful swoop, as it flies along the edge of the 

 retiring wave, or composedly picks up while walking along the sand, 

 on which it readily perches. 



It is a singular sight to see the small craft in the bay covered by 



