7 / 



washed with abundant showers of spray under a strong N.E. breeze, we 

 observed about 200 birds breeding ; except in three cases only, the eggs were 

 solitary. 



Note. — Dec. 14 — -Found two eggs lying together, differing in size and 

 colour so much, that there is not much doubt they were the produce of 

 different birds. 



No. 131. — Sterna Antarctica, Forst. 

 Common Tern. 



In this paper on our Birds, the nomenclature followed is that which is 

 given in Dr. Otto Finsch's Notes, "Trans. New Zealand Institute," Yol. i., 

 pp. 122-5, but in the case of this bird we prefer adhering to the name 

 assigned to it by Forster. In a note in the volume referred to, page 121, 

 S. antarctica, Forst., is asserted to be the same species as S. minuta, Linn. 

 Mr. Buller, in his "Notes on Herr Finsch's Review," tacitly admits this by his 

 silence ; we think this must be an error. Yarrell, in his " History of British 

 Birds," Yol. iii., p. 525, writes of /S. minuta, "their eggs are of a stone-colour, 

 spotted and speckled with ash-grey and dark chesnut-brown, the length 1 inch 

 4 lines, byW lines in breadth." This measurement is exactly the size of the eggs 

 of the next species, which we have numbered A. 131, whereas the eggs of the 

 yellow-billed S. antarctica measure in length 1 inch 6 lines, by a breadth of 

 1 inch 1 1- lines, and present a very striking contrast in colour ; they differ also 

 in shape. On referring to our collections of British and New Zealand eggs, 

 and comparing the eggs of these species of Terns, any hesitation we may have 

 entertained about the correctness of adhering to Forster, instead of the more 

 modern authorities, is removed. The Common Tern, very often termed the 

 Whale-bird, seems even more gregarious than its congener S. longipennis, that 

 is, taking into consideration its habits throughout the year. It may be 

 observed hovering over the newly-ploughed fields in great numbers, in search 

 of larvte of various insects ; the small lizard seems a favourite morsel, and may 

 frequently be noticed dangling from the beak of this Tern. 



We have remarked, several times, a curious habit of this bird, which 

 presents a singular appearance to the gaze of the traveller : a large flock will 

 rest motionless on the ground, with their delicate bluish-grey wings extended 

 vertically, and will maintain this singular posture for some time. It deposits 

 its eggs, two in number, on the bare ground, without any attempt at 

 nidification ; ovoiconical in form, they measure in length 1 inch 6 lines, with a 

 breadth of 1 inch 1^ lines. In colour very considerable variety is exhibited, 

 dull grey, greenish-white, pale-green, pale-brown, with small brown markings 

 distributed over the surface generally. This Tern is remarkably clamorous at 

 the breeding season ; and should a traveller approach their ground, the intruder 

 is instantly assailed by them with swift dartings, accompanied by noisy, harsh, 

 grating screams. The young birds remain about the breeding-ground for some 

 weeks, till they can fly well. 



No. A. 131.— Sterna (?) New Sp. 



A very small Tern visits the Bakaia river-bed during the breeding season, 

 not far below the gorge of that great river. There does not appear to exist 

 any description of it, either in Mr. Buller's Essay, Dr. Finsch's Notes, or in 

 Mr. Buller's Paper of August 25, 1868. It lays its eggs, two in number, on 

 the bare ground, they are stone-colour, blotched over with grey markings, and 

 measure through the axis 1 inch 4 lines, with a diameter of 11 lines. It is 

 not at all a common bird in that locality, and was not observed there last year. 

 In the Museum at Christchui^ch, are two specimens of a small Tern, obtained 

 in the province ; in all probability, the eggs noticed above, belong to indi- 



