STERNA. 



181 



Sterna albistriata ( Gray}. 

 (Plate XIII. fig. 1.) 



Sterna antarctica, Potts, Tr. N. Z. List. ii. p. 77 (1869); Butter, Birds 



New Zeal 2nd ed. ii. p. 70 (1885). 

 Sterna albistriata, Saunders, Cat. Birds, xxv. p. 48 (1896) ; Sharpe, 



Hand-l. i. p. 134 (1899). 



The eggs of the Black-fronted Tern are pyriform, the smaller end 

 being somewhat sharply pointed. The ground-colour is pale green, 

 and this is spotted and boldly blotched with dark umber-brown 

 and pale underlying purple. Two examples measure respectively : 

 1-57 by 1-J5; 1-58 by 1-15. 



2. Canterbury, New Zealand, 20th Oct. Saunders Coll. 

 (J. R. C.}. 



Sterna virgata, Cab. 

 (Plate XIII. fig. 3.) 



Sterna virgata, Sharpe, Phil. Trans. 168. p. 112 (1879) ; Saunders, t. c. 



p. 164 (1879) ; id. Zool. i Challenger ' Exped ii. pt. viii. p. 133 (1880); 



id. Cat. Birds B. M. xxv. p. 50 (1896) ; Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 134 



(1899); Hall, Ibis, 1900, p. 11. 

 ? Sterna, sp. inc., Sclater, Zool. ' Challenger ' Exped. ii. pt. viii. p. 151 



(1800). 



The eggs of the Banded Tern vary greatly in shape, some being 

 long, narrow ovals and others short, broad ovals. The ground is 

 of an olive-buff colour, and this is spotted, streaked and blotched 

 with dark blackish brown and pale underlying purple. Nine 

 examples measure from 1-65 to 1-9 in length, and from 1'23 to 

 1-37 in breadth. 



S. Kerguelen Island, Oct., Nov., Dec. Roval Society [P.l 



(A. E. Eaton}. 

 1. Heard Island, Feb.* Voy. H.M.S. * Challenger.' 



Sterna vittata, Gm. 

 (Plate XIII. fig. 2.) 



Sterna rnelanorhyncha, Gould, Handb. Birds Austr. ii. p. 398 (1865). 

 Sterna vittata, Sharpe, Phil. Trans. 168. p. 113 (1879) ; Saunders, Cat. 

 Birds B. M. xxv. p. 51 (1896) ; Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 134 (1899). 



The egg of the Southern Tern in the Collection is of an elongated 

 oval form and closely resembles the eggs of S. virgata. It measures 

 1-8 by 1-23. 



1. St. Paul's Island (J. Macgillivray}. Voy. H.M.S. ' Herald.' 



* I agree with Mr. Howard Saunders (I. c.) that this is the egg of 8. virgata 

 rather than of 8. vittata. 



