1877.] MR. H. SAUNDERS ON THE-LARID^. 79" 



These three specimens are in adult hreeding-plumage, the long 

 outer tail-streamers being, however, somewhat abraded. 



7. GyGIS CANDIDA (Gm.). 



Sterna Candida, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. 2, p. 607 (1788). 

 Gi/gis Candida, Wagler, Isis, 1832, p. 1223 ; Saunders, P. Z. S. 

 1876, p. 667. 



[2 specimens, c? and $ . Boatswain-bird Island, Ascension Island, 

 about April 3rd, 1873. 



No. 546, $. 1 Tahiti. September 18th-October 2nd, 1875. Shot 



No. 547, ?. J by Balfour on trees near Papuerini ? Eyes black.] 



There are also two specimens in spirits. 



All these examples have bills broad at the base, although from the 

 mandibular angle to the tip there is some slight variation, those of 

 the Tahitian birds being more pointed, whilst in those from the vol- 

 canic crags of Boatswain-bird Island the bill is evidently worn down 

 and blunted. In the coloration of the webs of the feet, also, the 

 Tahitian birds are of a brighter lemon-colour ; but the extent of this 

 colour is the same in all, viz. down to and a little below the last 

 joint of the middle toe. The shafts of the tail-feathers and of the 

 primaries seem liable to become white with the age of the feather 

 itself, owing to abrasion of the surface ; but in no case are the 

 characteristics wanting which distinguish this species from G. micro- 

 rhyncha, only known at present from the Marquesas Islands, where 

 the present species is also found. The fact of its being obtained 

 near Ascension Island is an interesting addition to our knowledge of 

 its range, as it has not yet been recorded on that side, so far as I am 

 aware, beyond St. Helena. 



8. Angus stolidus (Linn.) 



Sterna stolida, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 227 (1766). 

 Anous stolidus. Gray, List Gen. Birds, p. 100 (1841); Saunders, 

 P. Z. S. 1876, p. 669. 



[2 specimens. Inaccessible Island, near Tristan d'Acunha, October 

 16th, 1873. Eyes black. Live in caves and on trees. 



No. 140, cj. Raine Island, Australia. Feet, bill, and eyes 

 black. 



No. 444, $ . At sea : lat. 1° N., long. 137° 1 1' £. 



No. 485, 2 . Admiralty Islands, March 3rd-10th, 1875. 



No. 564, (S . At sea, near Tahiti, October 1875.] 



In alcohol. Egg, and newly hatched young, St. Paul's Rocks, 

 Atlantic, August 28th, 1873. 



9 eggs from Raine Island, August 31st, 1874. 



This is a very interesting series, showing the changes resulting from 

 age, both in the individual and in the annual plumage. The ex- 

 amination of a great number of Noddies from various localities 

 tends to show that specimens in clean and fresh plumage are very 

 rarely to be met with ; and the weatherworn appearance of some 

 individuals, when compared with freshly moulted birds, would lead 

 the superficial observer to suppose that he had before him distinct 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 1877, No. LII- 52 



