STERNIN.E. 837 



Gen. Hydrochelidon, Boie. 



Bill rather long, slender, very gently arched on the r culmen, 

 gonys with the ascending portion short ; tail short, slightly forked ; 

 tarsus moderate ; feet not fully webbed, 



984. Hydrochelidon Indica, Stephens. 



Viralva apud Stephens— Bltth, Cat. 1700— Sykes, Cat. 

 230 — S. similis, Gray, Hardwicke, 111. Ind. Orn. pi. — 

 Jerdon, Cat. 398 and 404— S. hybrida, Pallas— S. leucopareia, 

 Natterer— S. grisea, Horsfield— Gould, Birds of Europe, 

 pi. 424. 



The Small Marsh Tern. 



Descr. — In summer plumage, the head and nape black ; lores, 

 and a broad line through the eyes, white ; back of neck, mantle, 

 wings and tail darkish-grey ; chin, cheeks, and sides of the neck 

 very pale grey, deepening on the breast ; abdomen dull black ; 

 under tail-coverts white. 



Bill lake red; irides brown; feet dull red. Length 10 to 11 

 inches; wing 8^ to 9; extent 29; tail 3^; bill at front 1 T 3 F ; 

 tarsus 1 ; extent 27. The wings reach 2 inches beyond the short 

 tail. 



In winter plumage, the forehead and round the bill white ; 

 top of head and nape more or less black, or dusky edged with 

 white ; the whole lower parts white ; bill dusky-lake ; feet dingy 

 lake, or blackish with a red tinge brighter on the back of the 

 tarsus and soles. The young have the head brownish, dusky on the 

 occiput, and the usual mottled plumage above ; the primaries dark 

 ashy, the bill dark brown, reddish at the base ; feet fleshy-brown. 



This Tern is exceedingly abundant in India, frequenting 

 marshes, tanks, and rivers, usually preying on aquatic food, not 

 unfrequently hunting over fields, beds of reeds, and marshy ground, 

 where it captures grasshoppers, caterpillars, and other insects. 

 During the night, in some parts of the country, it roosts on thick 

 beds of reeds, congregating in vast numbers ; for some time after 

 sunset, till nearly dark, indeed, it may be seen flying in scattered 



