106 



The figure (Plate VIII.) represents a nest built against one of those large 

 black stems of Carexvirgata, which so often clot the shallows of some of the in- 

 land lakes ; it is constructed of aquatic plants and roots, is screened by the long 

 sweeping leaves of the Garex, which hang over till the points of the leaves dip 

 the water. It is only by wading and veiy close search that these nests are to 

 be discovered. "VVe have not, as yet, remarked that the bird covers the eggs 

 on leaving the nest ; this is a habit which many writers attribiite to the 

 Gi'ebes of Europe. 



We have not seen the Grebe on land, and seldom flying ; when on the 

 wing it just skims the surface of the water, with a very rapid motion of the 

 wings. On one occasion we noted several in company, on a lake of moderate 

 size, making use of their wings. 



B. 131.^ — Sterna (alba, sp. nov. 1 Potts). 

 White Tern. 

 In Gray's "List of the Birds of New Zealand and the Adjacent Islands," 

 may be fo\ind, — Gygis Candida, Wagl. White Tern, Lath. Sterna alba, Gmel. 

 Sterna Candida, Gmel. Habitat, ISTorfolk Island. 



Now, whether the bird we have lately seen is identical with that in the 

 above list, we cannot undertake to decide, and briefly record the occurrence of 

 a White Tern, under conditions presumptive of its breeding here. 



On the 4th of January, whilst crossing " the plains," from the Rangitata 

 to the Bakaia, amongst a large number of the common tern {S. antarctica), 

 wheeling and hovering about one of the streams of the Ashburton, we first 

 observed this white bird. The shingly river-bed about this spot had been 

 selected as a breeding place by the common tei-n, for, crossing it aboiit five 

 weeks previously, we had noticed many of their dusky-coloured eggs lying in 

 couplets on the bare gravel. 



On sighting the White Tern, we left our horses to graze on the soft grass 

 that fringed a rippling creek, and watched its movements with great interest ; 

 the orange-billed S. antarctica, vociferous and bold, flew screaming, with rapid 

 darts, close enough to be reached with a riding-rod, mai"king their irritation at 

 our intrusion by swooj^ing close to our faces, sometimes ejecting a whitish fluid 

 on las ; the stranger, less confident, kept rather aloof, with a difierent style of 

 flight to that of its congeners, less rapid, but not to our thinking did this arise 

 from any lack of power ; the wings appeared more bent, the stroke more 

 delibei-ate. As we watched its devious course up and down the stream, its 

 pu.re white plumage was easily followed ; sometimes it skimmed over the surface 

 of the swiftly flowing river, or hung hovering for a few moments a few feet 

 above, now and then rising to a considerable height, often to an elevation only 

 I'eached by a few of its busy companions. Several times it was observed to 

 settle on the shingle, soon rising again, wheeling about with renewed activity. 

 As the tei'n's breeding season, in this country, may be considered at its height 



