STERNIN^E. 835 



Marsh Terns. 



Gen. Sylochelidon, Brelim. 



Syn. Thalasseus, Boie. 



Char. — Bill very stout, deep, culmen gently curving, gonys 

 strongly angulated ; tail short, emarginate ; tarsus somewhat long. 



These are the largest of all Terns, with very stout, red bills, 

 and a short tail. They frequent rivers, as well as tanks and 

 marshes. 



982. Sylochelidon caspius, Latham. 



Sterna apud Latham — Blyth, Gat. 1698 — Thalassites, n. sp., 

 Jerdon, Cat. 405 — Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 414 — S. strenua, 

 Gould ? 



The Largest Tern. 



Descr. — In summer, head above, nape, and ear-coverts pure 

 black; mantle, wings, and tail pearl-grey, some of the first primaries 

 dark-edged and tipped ; back of neck and lower plumage white. 



In winter the head is white, the occiput marked with numerous 

 black streaks. 



Bill coral-red ; irides brown ; feet black. Length 18 to 20 inches ; 

 wing 16 ; extent 49 ; tail 4-| to 5 ; bill at front 2£-; tarsus If. 



The wing reaches nearly 3 inches beyond the short tail. 



This fine Tern is by no means uncommon in most parts of 

 India, frequenting rivers, jheels, and tanks. It is generally seen 

 alone, or in pairs, rarely a few together, and it feeds chiefly on 

 fish and prawns. It does not appear to breed in this country, 

 and probably retires to Central Asia for that purpose. It has 

 been found over the greater part of Southern and temperate 

 Europe, Asia, and Africa, and has occasionally been killed in 

 England. Pallas states that it lays only two eggs, pale livid in 

 colour with dusky spots. 



6'. strenua of Gould, from Australia, is apparently very closely 

 allied to this bird,, if not identical with it, and there are other 

 species. Phcetusa of Wagler, with three or four species, is closely 

 related to Sylochelidon. 



