Obdee ANSEKES.] [Fam. L&.BIDM. 



STEENA NEREIS. 



(LITTLE WHITE TERN.) 



Stemula nereis, Gould, P. Z. S. 1842, p. 140. 



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



Sterna nereis, Pelz. Verh. zool.-bot. Gesellsch. Wien, xvii. p. 318 (1867). 



Sterna minuta, Finsch, J. f. O. 1867, pp. 337, 347. 



Sterna alba, Potts, Trans. N.-Z. Instit. 1870, vol. iii. p. 106. 



Native name. — Tara-iti. 



Ad. ptil. (sstiv. supra dilute cinereus, tectricibus alarum dorso concoloribus : remigibus intus albis, extus cano 

 lavatis, primariis duobus externis extus nigricantibus, scapis albis, pennis minoribus versus apicem albis, 

 secundariis intimis dorso concoloribus, dorso postico et uropygio cum supracaudalibus albis : cauda 

 alba, : pileo postico et nucha, cum regione oculari et supraparotica nigris : fronte lata, genis et facie 

 laterak' et corpore subtiis toto albis : rostro lsete flavido : pedibus flavis, unguibus nigricantibus : iride 

 nigra. 



Ad. ptil. Mem. similis ptilosi Eestivse, sed pileo summo albo nigro vario : nucha nigra. 



Juv. fronte et pileo cinerascenti-albis fuscescente variis : linea crescente ab oculo postico circa nucham pro- 

 ducts nigra : supra dilute cinereus, plumis versus apicem fascia irregulari brunnea, transnotatis : rostro 

 flavicanti-brunneo : pedibus sordide flavis. 



Adult in summer. Forehead and along the base of upper mandible white ; spot in front of each eye, crown 

 of the head, and nape black ; throat, fore neck, and all the under surface silvery white ; hind neck, 

 shoulders, back, and upper surface of wings delicate silvery grey, darker on the primaries ; rump and 

 tail, with the upper and lower coverts, pure white. Irides black ; bill bright yellow ; tarsi and toes 

 yellow, the claws darker. Length 9 inches ; wing, from flexure, 7"5 j tail 3 (median feathers 1 inch 

 shorter) ; bill, along the ridge l - 25, along the edge of lower mandible 1*35 ; tarsus - 6; middle toe and 

 claw •?. 



Adult in winter. Differs in having the crown of the head white, mixed with black, darkening outwards, the 

 nuchal collar being entbely black. 



Obs. In some examples the first primary is margined on the outer web with black; in others it is of a 

 uniform dark grey. 



Young. Forehead and crown greyish white, mottled with dusky ; from the eyes a crescent of greyish 

 black, which encircles the occiput ; the plumage of the upper parts silvery grey, mixed with white, and 



2p 



