Contributions to the Ornithology of India, 8^e. 281 



the same time, each bird flying separately on his own respon- 

 sibility, and never so far as I have noticed associated in flocks 

 or parties as is so often the case with the other terns and gulls. 

 The local name is heyhra which does approximately (at any rat© 

 when pronounced by the native fishermen) represent the harsh cry 

 of this species. This bird has a very human peculiarity which I 

 have not often noticed in others, viz., it always cries out when 

 it is hit. If you fire at it and miss, the bird pursues " the even 

 tenor of its noiseless way,'' but so sure as a few body feathers 

 are knocked out, off goes the bird with his bill straight in front 

 of him, anathematizing the sportsman in most unseemly 

 fashion. Usually, when not interfered with, this species may be 

 distinguished at a great distance by its long pointed bill turned 

 downwards at right angles to the body. 



Individuals of both sexes vary much in size, from 20 to 23 

 inches in length and from 48 to 54 inches in expanse ; tliey 

 often weigh fully a pound and-a-half. In the Kurrachee Har- 

 bour they were not uncommon, and 1 obtained specimens in 

 more than one locality along the Mekran Coast, and saw several 

 at Muscat. 



983. — Sterna nilotica, F. Easselq.—8. Anglica. 

 Montagu. 



This species was far from common in Sindh. I met with it 

 occasionally in the larger inland pieces of water and once or 

 twice on the Indus, but the only places where I saw numerous 

 specimens were the Muncher lake and Kurrachee Harbour. 

 VvxYiVq mirantia 2ai(\.j avanica, i\\Q present s])Qc\Qs appears to re- 

 main for a considerable period in winter plumage, and I find 

 specimens killed early in November and well into March still in 

 this garb. 



984.— Sterna hybri(ia,P«Zks.— 6^. indica, Stephen. 



— S. leucopareia, Natterer. 



This species was occasionally met with on the inland lakes of 

 Sindh ; but was nowhere numerous ; the fishermen however 

 affirmed that it bred there, during the inundation, and as it 

 breeds freely in Cashmere, in Oudh, and Rohilcund, and even 

 (though more sparingly) in the North- Western Provinces, this 

 may very likely be the fact, though it needs verification. 



985 —Sterna aurantia. Gray. 



This large river tern which is a permanent resident in all the 

 chief rivers of Northern India at any rate, was fairly abundant 

 the whole way down the Jheluni; Chenab, and the Indus^ right 



