658 MR. H. SAUNDERS ON THE STERNIN^l. [June 20, 



Sterna velox, Rupp. Atlas, p. 21, t. 13 (1826), Red Sea (type 

 r„t Frankfort examined, H. S.) ; Thomson, Nat. Hist. Ireland, iii. 

 ]>. 226 (1847), "between Dublin and Howth, end of Dec. 1846, in 

 full breeding-plumage" (!) ; Svvinhoe, Ibis, I860, p. 429, 1861, 

 p. 345, 1866, p. 134 ; Kirk, Ibis, 1864, p. 339 (breeding at mouth 

 of Zambesi). 



Sterna pelecanoides, King, Surv. Int. Austr. ii. p. 422 (1826). 



Sterna longirostris, Lesson, Traite d'Orn. p. 621 (1831) ; Puche- 

 ran, Rev. Zool. 1850, p. 635; Boie, Isis, 1844, p. 181. 



Pelecanopus pelecanoides, Wagler, Isis, 1832, pp. 277 & 1225, 

 type of Pelecanopus. 



Thalasseus pelecanoides, Gould, R. Austr. vii. pi. 23 (1848) ; 

 Gray, Gen. Birds, iii. p. 658 ; Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1871, p. 422. 



Thalasseus poliocercus, Gould, B. Austr. vii. pi. 24 ( 1 848), Hand- 

 bk. B. Austr. ii. p. 396 (1865). 



Sterna rectirostris, Peale, Zool. U.S. Expl. Exped. p. 281 (1848). 



Sylochelidon polyocerca, G. R. Gray, List of Anseres, Brit. Mus. 

 p. 175. 



Sterna novce-hollandice (Mus. Paris.), Pucheran, Rev. Zool. 1850, 

 p. 545 (type in Paris Mus. examined, //. S.) 



Pelecanopus velox, P. bergii, et P. poliocercus, Bonap. Compt. 

 Rend. xlii. p. 772 (1856). 



Sterna poliocerca, Schlegel, M. P.-Bas, Sternce, p. 12 (1863) ; 

 G. R. Gray, Ibis, 1862, p. 249. 



Thalasseus cristatus, Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1863, p. 329; Jerdon, B. 

 of India, iii. p. 842 (1864) ; Gould, Handbk. B. Austr. ii. p. 394 

 (1865). 



Thalasseus bergii, Bias. J. f. Orn. 1866, p. 81. 



" Phcetusa astrolabes, Bp." in Paris Mus. from Tonga-tabu, Voy. 

 of Quoy & Gaimard. Another specimen so marked = S. frontalis — 

 H. S. 



The distinguishing character of this large Sea-Tern is the white 

 band of feathers across the base of the bill. In the adult plumage, 

 and even in winter plumage, there is no other species of its size in 

 which the mantle and tail are of so dark a grey ; but it must be ad- 

 mitted that between extreme individuals from different localities 

 there is a considerable difference in intensity of coloration. In a 

 series, however, they blend so gradually as to make it impossible to 

 draw a line ; whilst with regard to the smaller race, which has re- 

 ceived the name of S. poliocerca, there are similar imperceptible 

 gradations in size. The types, of S. bergii from the Cape of Good 

 Hope and of S. velox from the Red Sea, are identical iu size and 

 colour, and are not perceptibly lighter in colour than " S. pele- 

 canoides ;" but in Madagascar specimens, and also in some from 

 Damara-land, the mantle is of a lighter shade. Locality does not 

 assist in separating them ; for it is clear that the light- and the 

 dark-backed birds cross each other's line at Madagascar. 



From the Cape of Good Hope and from the Red Sea (with the 

 exception of Madagascar), throughout the Indian Seas, Ceylon, the 

 Malay archipelago, the China seas, down to Australia and the Fiji 



