896 Birds of Celebes: Laridae. 



e. Hydrochelidon indica (Stejih.); (1) Gray, Gen. B. (1846) HI, 660. 



/: Hydrochelidon leucopareia (1) Gld., Hb. B. Austr. 1865, II, 406; (2) Wakl., Tr. Z. S. 

 1872, Vm, 103; (3) id., ib. 1875, IX, 244; (4) Meyer, Ibis 1879, 146. 



For further synonymy and references cf. Salvadori 10\ Saunders 25. 



Figures and descriptions. Naumann b 11; Dresser IV, and the other standard works on 

 European birds; Gould d II; Legge 8; Saunders 25; etc. 



Breeding plumage. Top and sides of head nearly down to the level of the under 

 eyelid, and nape black; from rictal region and chin to sides of upper neck 

 white; general colour of remaining plumage grey, pale on cheeks and upper 

 throat, darkest — blackish grey on lower breast and abdomen, velvety pearl-grey on 

 primaries and their coverts, the worn tips of the former blackish; under wing-coverts, 

 crissum and under tail-coverts white. Wing 243 mm; tail 85; tarsus 22; middle 

 toe with claw 31; exposed culmen 31 mm (S. Europe, Nr. 10958). 



Bill bright blood-red; iris deep hazel or dark brown; eyelid black; feet blood- 

 red, lighter than the bill (Naumann h II). 



Old male. The old male in the breeding season has the breast much darker than the female, 

 l)ut males in theii- second year are Uable to be mistaken for females several years 

 old (Naumann b II). 



Winter plumage. In winter the entii'e under parts are white; forehead white, rest of head 

 above and nape streaked with black and wliite. "Bill (variable) blackish red, dull 

 red, almost black in some ; legs and feet likewise Varying from dark reddish to dull lake". 



Eggs. "Moderately broad ovals, a good deal pointed towards one end. The texture is very 

 fine and close but they have little or no gloss. The ground-colour varies, and is 

 sometimes a pale olive stone-colour, sometimes an olive-brown, sometimes a bright 

 decided gi-een, or a rich or pale blue-green, sometimes a greenish grey, but most 

 commonly a pale clear olive-green. The markings, wliich are generally pretty numerous, 

 consist of streaks, spots and blotches of deep blackish brown, umber-brown, or reddish 

 brown, and of a number of very pale purplish brown clouds, streaks, and spots under- 

 Ijing the primary markings." Mr. Hume describes some of the more pronounced 

 types of markings. Size 35 — 42 X 26 — 29 mm (Hume a 4). See, also. North 17, 

 Naumann b II, etc.). 



Nest. Of rushes, weeds, grasses, placed on hillocks of mud, or, on heaps of rush, reed or 

 other rubbish driven together by the wind, on the leaves of the water-lily or lotos 

 (India), the locality chosen being a large swamp or jheel (b II, a 4). 



Distribution. "South-western, Central, and Southern Europe in summer and to about 55" N. 

 lat. on migration; eastward throughout temperate and warmer Asia to China; south- 

 wards by Malayasia to Australia as far as 35° S. lat., throughout Africa; Barbados 

 once" (Saunders 2-5). — In the East Indies: Philippines — Luzon (Meyer f 3, 

 Murray etc. 6, 24,25,26), Samar, Mindanao, Sulu, Tawi Tawi, Calamianes, Tablas, 

 Romblon, Sibuyan, Panay, Guunaras, Negros, Masbate, Cebu, Siquijor (Bourns & 

 Worcester 24), Palawan (Whitehead 15, 20, Moseley 25); Borneo (Diard, 

 Schwaner, etc. a 2, 3, 18); Java (Horsfield c 1, Vorderman 11); Celebes — 

 Gorontalo Distr. (For s ten a 2, Riedel 14), Togian (Meyer f 4, 25), S. Peninsula, 

 Tempe (Weber 23); Buru (Bruijn 10); ? Amboina (Platen 10); Salawatti (Bruijn 

 10); New Guinea (D'Albertis 10). 



No naturalist travelling in Celebes has paid close attention to the sea-birds 

 of the island, and specimens of such are rather rare in collections. Of the 

 Whiskered Tern over a dozen have been recorded from Celebes, from which it 



