656 MR. H. SAUNDERS ON THE STERNIN^E. [June 20, 



Sterna regia, Gambel, Proc. Phil. Acad. iv. 1848, p. 228 ; Lawr. 

 B. N. Am. p. 859 (1858) ; Cones, Key, p. 319 (1872), B. N.W. 

 Am. p. 669 (1874). 



Thalasseus regius, Gamb. J. Phil. Ac. i. 1849, p. 228; Coues, 

 Proc. Phil. Ac. 1862, p. 539. 



Phcetusa regia, Bp. Compt. Rend. p. 7/2 (1856). 



Thalasseus galericulatvs, Bias. J. f. Orn. 1866, p. 82. 



Thalasseus cayennensis, Gray, Hand-list, iii. p. 120 (1871) ; 

 Shelley, Ibis, 1872, p. 293. 



Sterna bergii, Irhy, Orn. Str. Gib. p. 209 (1875) (coll. Lilford ; 

 sp. examined, H. S.). 



I fully agree with Messrs. Sclater & Salvin that Buffon's plate on 

 which Sterna maxima of Boddaert is founded, represents this species. 

 Mr. Salvin and myself have also carefully compared Lichtenstein's type 

 specimen of S.galericulata with our respective series of American spe- 

 cimens, and find them identical ; I have also compared a good many 

 specimens from the Gold Coast, all in winter plumage, and mostly 

 obtained in the early spring. The specimen in Lord Lilford's col- 

 lection, which was obtained by the late M. Favier in the Straits of 

 Gibraltar, and was purchased from his successor by Col. Irby, un- 

 doubtedly belongs to this species. 



Some North-American examples are a trifle more robust in the 

 bill than either Brazilian or African specimens ; but there is no con- 

 stant difference, even in this particular. 



On examining Lichtenstein's type of S. galericulata, the outer pri- 

 maries proved to be partially in the sheath, and about two inches 

 shorter than their natural length, explaining the original descrip- 

 tion of "the tail being 2 inches longer than the wings" which had 

 previously been a great puzzle, there being no Tern of this size known 

 in which the proportions were such. This species has a somewhat 

 wide range, as it is found on the Pacific coast from California to Peru, 

 whilst on the Atlantic sea-board it has once occurred as far north as 

 Massachusetts ; it breeds on the coast of Florida, and on some of the 

 cays of the West-Indian Islands, and visits South Brazil. Its occur- 

 rence on the African coast has already been noticed ; but at present 

 there is no record of its breeding there. 



Sterna caspia, Pall. 



Sterna caspia,Vs\\. Nov. Comm. Petrop. xiv. p. 582 (1769-70); 

 Pall. Zoog. Rosso-As. p. 332 (1811). 



Sterna tschegrava, Lepechin, Nov. Comm. Petrop. xiv. p. 500 

 (1769-70). 



Sterna caspica, Sparrm. Mus. Carl. ii. fasc. 3, no. 72(1788); 

 Kirk, Ibis, 1864, p. 337 (mouth of Zambesi, breeding). 



Sterna meqarhynchos, Meyer & W. Tasch. deutsch. Vog. ii. 

 p. 457 (1810). 



Thalasseus caspius, Boie, Isis, 1822, p. 563; Coues, Proc. Phil. 

 Acad. 1862, p. 538, and T. imperator in text; Gray, Hand-list, iii. 

 p. 120 (1871). 



Hydroprogne caspica, Kaup, Sk. Entw. eur. Thier. p. 91 (1829). 



