Ordee ANSERES.] [Fah. LARI1LE. 



STEENA ANTAECTICA. 



(GREY TERN.) 



Sterna antarctica, Wagler, Isis, 1832, p. 1223. 



Hydrochelidon albostriata, Gray, Voy. Ereb. & Terr., Birds, p. 19, pi. 21 (1844). 



Sternula antarctica, Bonap. C. R. xlii. p. 773 (1856). 



Hydrochelidon albistriata, Bonap. C. R. xlii. p. 773 (1856). 



Sterna cinerea, Ellman, Zool. 1861, p. 7473. 



Hydrochelidon hybrida, Finsch, J. f. O. 1867, p. 347. 



Native name. — Tara. 



Ad. mstiv. supra saturate cinereus, uropygio conspicue albo : capite summo nuchaque nigris : linea faciali a 

 rostri basi directe per regionem paroticam ducta, alba : genis et corpore subtus toto pulchre cinereis, 

 subcaudalibus albis : remigibus extus cinerascentibus, intiis albis, scapis albis, primario primo extiis 

 iiigricante : cauda dilute cinerea, rectricibus versus basin albis, rectrice extima fere omnino alba, versus 

 apicena cinerascente : rostro laete flavo : pedibus lsete flavis, unguibus saturate brunneis : iride nigra. 



Ad. Mem. similis ptilosi sestivae, sed fronte et pileo cinerascenti-albis, nigro variis. 



Juv. pileo summo et laterali saturate cinerascentibus : linea a basi rostri per oculum ducta et ad torquem 

 nuchalem angustam conjuncta nigricante, albo varia, : tectricibus alarum, scapularibus et secundariis 

 intimis brunneo subterminaliter notatis : rostro nigro, versus apicem brunnescente : pedibus sordide 

 flavis. 



Adult in summer. Top and sides of the head and nape velvety black ; from the gape a broad streak of white 

 passes under the eyes, and is continued to the nape, forming a border to the black plumage ; upper and 

 lower tail-coverts pure white; the rest of the body beautiful pearl-grey, darker on the upper surface; 

 wing-feathers darker grey, with white shafts, the first primary margined on the outer web with dusky 

 black ; tail-feathers dark pearl-grey, the outermost ones inclining to white, and all of them white on 

 their under surface. Irides black ; bill bright yellow, sometimes shaded with brown towards the base 

 of the upper mandible ; legs and feet bright yellow, the claws dark brown. Total length 12 inches ; wing, 

 from flexure, 10 - 25 ; tail 4 - 5 (middle feather 1'75 inch shorter) ; bill, along the ridge 1 - 1, along the edge 

 of lower mandible 1*5 j tarsus - 6; middle toe and claw 1 ; hind toe and claw "2. 



Adult in winter. Differs only in having the forehead and crown greyish white, mottled with black. 



Young. Top and sides of the head dark ash-grey ; the lores, a mark beyond the eyes, and a narrow nuchal 

 collar obscurely mottled with black ; upper wing-coverts, scapulars, and long inner secondaries with a 

 subterminal mark of brown, and with paler tips ; the rest of the plumage as in the adult. Bill black, 

 inclining to light brown towards the base ; legs and feet dull yellow. 



This handsome Tern is very common in every part of the South Island, but is only occasionally 



