194 



LAKID^E. 



Sterna saundersi, Hume. 

 (Plate XIV. fig. 2.) 



Sterna saundersi, Legge, Birds Ceylon, p. 1023 (1880) ; Saunders, Cat. 



Birds B. M. xxv. p. 120 (1896) ; Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 136 {1899). 

 Sterna sinensis, Oates ed. Hume, Nests fy Egos Ind. B. iii. p. 312, part. 



(1890). 



The eggs of the Black-shafted Little Tern are of a broad oval form, 

 with the small end very slightly compressed. All the specimens 

 in the Collection are very uniform in coloration, and although 

 they can be matched by some of those of S. minuta, they are, as 

 a rule, very recognizable. The ground is of a creamy-buff colour. 

 The markings are very small, consisting of dots, streaks and lines, 

 and there is seldom a mark which can be termed a blotch. 

 Moreover, the markings are rather sparingly spread over the shell, 

 and present a very delicate appearance. The surface-markings are 

 yellowish brown, with occasionally a darker or blackish -brown spot, 

 and the underlying ones are of a pale grey colour. In size the eggs 

 do not differ from those of 8. minuta. 



2. Suakin Reefs, Red Sea. Capt. A. Carpenter [P.]. 

 16. Karachi, May (E. A. Butler). Hume Coll. 



Sterna antillarum (Less.). 

 (Plate XIV. fig. 3.) 



Sterna antillarum, Salmn, Ibis, 1864, p. 384 ; Baird, Brewer fy Ridgw. 

 Water Birds N. Am. ii. p. 309 (1884) ; Saunders, Cat. Birds B. M. 

 xxv. p. 122 (1896) ; Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 137 (1899). 



The eggs of the Least Tern are not separable from those of 

 S. minuta. They vary from 1-15 to 1'3 in length, and from -81 to 

 95 in breadth. 



3. North America. Saunders Coll. 

 2. North America (T. M. Brewer). Saunders Coll. 



1. North America (T. M. Brewer). Salvin-Godman Coll. 



1. North America. A. D. Bartlett, Esq. [P.]. 

 5. Hog Island, Virginia, 5th June Salvin-Godman Coll. 



(It. B. Hitz: Henshaw Coll.). 



2. Cobbs Island, Virginia, June. W. E. D. Scott, Esq. [C.]. 

 1. Cobbs Island, June. 



1. Cobbs Island, June. 



1. Cobbs Island, June. 



2. Cobbs Island, June. 



2. Cobbs Island, 5th June. 



1. Cobbs Island, 5th June. }~ ^ 



2. Cobbs Island, 5th June. 



2. Cobbs Island, 5th June. 



2. Cobbs Island, 17th June. 



2. Cobbs Island, 27th May. 



2. Cobbs Island, 27th May. 



2. Cobbs Island, 27th May. 



I 



