S84 Contribntions to the Ornithology of India, 8fc. 



with more or less of a g-reenish tinge. The fourth is the species 

 which frequents our Indian Coasts which I had previously- 

 received from the Megna near Commilla. in Tipperah^ and from 

 Madras, and which I now found to he common along the Sindh 

 Coast, in the Kurrachee Harbour, and along the Mekran 

 Coast. 



In my birds the wings vary from 14*2 in the smallest females 

 to 14*8 in the largest males, while the bills vary from 2'6 to 

 ^•75. The upper plumage except of course the white neck, and 

 the black or black and white head according to season is a yeiy 

 dark grey, with more or less of a brownish tinge. 



Schlegel's maximum dimensions for this species somewhat 

 exceed in some cases those given above, but the latter all exceed 

 his minima. He gives the wing at from 14 to 15 "3 and the bill 

 at from 2 '5 to about 2*7> 



This species, though not uncommon, is on the Sindh Coast, 

 and the Gulf of Oman very rare as compared with either S. 

 canfiaca, or 8. hengalensis. Of both these latter hundreds may be 

 seen daily ; of the present species I saw at most a dozen and 

 procured only five specimens. 



All these three latter species are said to breed on the rocky 

 island of Astolah, famous for its turtles, and which lies off the 

 Mekran Coast about half way between the boundary of Sindh and 

 Gwader. The breeding season is said to be May. 



990 —Sterna bengalensis. Lesson— 8, affinis, 



Buppell, — S. media, Horsf. — 8. maxuriensis,Ehr en- 

 berg — 8. Torresii, Gould, 



This species is excessively abundant in the Kurrachee Har- 

 bour, and in all suitable bays, and back-waters, from the mouths 

 of the Indus, at any rate to Gwader on the Mekran Coast ; while 

 Bergii is met with only singly, bengalensis and cantiaca herd 

 together in vast flocks, and though these too may be met with 

 singly, whilst feeding, morning and night, at mid-day they are 

 always seen congregating in such masses that a single shot, 

 (and they have apparently no fear of men or guns) secures a dozen 

 specimens. 



It will be observed that in regard to the synonymy of this 

 species, I have followed Schlegel ; the subject is unquestionably, 

 at present a thorny one, and it is only right to explain, that 

 Mr. Gray acknowledges three distinct species where Schlegel 

 (whom I believe to be right) gives only one, viz. : 



(1.) — Affinis, Riip., araUca, Ehr., from the Red Sea and 

 Madagascar. 



(2.) — MaxuriensiSj Ehr.^ melanocejahala, Tern. North Africa. 



