IN THE GULF OF OMAN. 301 



[990.— Sterna media, Eorsf. (= S. affinis, Bupp. 

 et S. bengalensis, Cuv.) 



Captain Butler has also sent a lovely specimen of this 

 species killed on the Mekran Coast, on the 20th May. 



It is a male in full breeding plumage ; the whole forehead, 

 crown, occiput and crest velvet black ; legs aud feet black ; 

 soles pale yellow; hides dark brown; bill orange. 



It measured — 



L. Ex. T. W. Ts. B. at front. B. from g. 



S 165 3575 60 12-25 1-1 2-19 293 



The upper parts are a delicate pale satin grey (excluding 

 of course the head and white neck) ; the outer web of the outer 

 tail feather nearly white ; the quills thickly silvered ; the outer 

 web of the 1st primary deep dusky grey towards the base; 

 the inner half of the inner web the same colour. More aud 

 more of the same dark color on the inner webs of the succeed- 

 ing primaries, the silvering encroaching on the dark colour as 

 it increases in extent. 



We have all hitherto failed to secure the eggs of this species, 

 though I have had reason to believe that it breeds with anosthcetus 

 in July or August. — A. 0. H.] 



992.— Sterna anosthaetus, Scop. 



We did not observe this Tern until we got about opposite to 

 Gwadai*, after which it became common all along the Gulf 

 of Oman, and in the Persian Gulf it was excessively abundant 

 as far as Henjam, the furthest point we visited. 



It constantly came* on board at night to roost, settling up in 

 the riggiug and on the life boats. In fact all of the specimens 

 I preserved were captured on board at roost by the sailors. 

 No other species ever settled on board during the trip. Mea- 

 surements as follows : — 



Sex. L. W. T. B. at f. B- fr.g. Exp. 



S 14- 987 5 75 163 206 30- Immature plumage. 



<? 16#. 10.12 725 181 225 31-5 



Legs, feet, and bill, black ; irides, blackish brown. 



993. — Anous stolidus, Lin* 



I observed a few Noddies along the coast between Jashk 

 and Pusni, about half a dozen in all. Most of them were 

 skimming over the water like Shearwaters at a considerable 

 distance from land (2 or 3 miles) ; but the one I secured, a re- 

 markably flue specimen, which I have already mentioned 



* This is always the Tern that most commonly comes on board ships in Indian waters. 

 I have had at least three times as many of this species sent me, caught on board, as 

 of all other species of Terns put together. — A.O.H. 



u 14 



