1028 STERNA BEEGII. 



Persian Gulf, and is found round the coasts of Arabia to the Red Sea, -where, writes Von Heuglin, it is 

 common, except in the northern half. It is, however, resident, says Captain Shelley, in Lower Egypt, and 

 various naturalists have noticed it in Port Said. On the Somauli coast Mr. Heuglin found it common, and 

 discovered it breeding not far from the shore further north, between Suakin and Massowa. Southwards it 

 extends down the eastern side of the continent to the Cape, where it is, according to Layard, one of the 

 commonest of Terns, breeding to the north-west of Cape Town. It is recorded from Algoa Bay and Natal, 

 and also from Mozambique and Zambesi. Newton found it in Madagascar, Rodriguez, and also at the 

 Seychelles. It is found in Damara Land in Walwich Bay, but does not extend further north than that 

 latitude, being replaced on the west coast by S. maxima, which Captain Shelley records, in the ' Ibis/ 1872, 

 under the name of S. bergii, as " being the commonest Tern at Accra and Cape-Coast Castle." 



Returning to the Asiatic region, we find it common on the China coasts, breeding on Kelung Island, 

 N. Formosa. It was obtained in the Philippines at Zamboanga by the ' Challenger' naturalists, and also in 

 the Admiralty Islands. In the Malayan archipelago it is almost universally distributed, having been obtained 

 in Sumatra (Lampong), Java, Borneo (Labuan), Celebes, Batchian, Gilolo, Morotai, Amboyna, Ceram, 

 Mysol, Aru Islands, Obi, Timor, Flores, and New Guinea. In Australia it is found round the entire coast. 

 In Torres Straits Macgillivray found it breeding in May and June ; whilst on the west coast Gilbert took its 

 eggs on Bathurst Island, where it resorts in great numbers in December. It is very abundant in Bass's 

 Straits and off the coast of New South Wales, being found in flocks of from ten to fifty in winter, according to 

 Gould, and breeding there in summer. It is found at Norfolk Island ; and, according to Layard, it is common 

 in New Caledonia, and distributed throughout the New Hebrides and the Fiji Islands. It is recorded by 

 Finsch from the Friendly group and from the island of Ponape. It has likewise been found in the Society 

 and the Sandwich Islands, and is doubtless universally distributed throughout Polynesia. 



Habits — The Swift Tern, as it is sometimes called, is entirely a maritime species, frequenting open 

 coasts, deep harbours and bays, and often straying many miles away from land. It confines itself, as much as 

 possible, to rocky places, and particularly to parts of the coast where there are isolated rocks standing out a 

 little distance from the land, on which it delights to rest when not fishing, huddling together, so that the 

 surfaces of small rocks are completely covered by them sometimes. From these trysting-places they sally 

 out in small parties of half a dozen to fish, and do not congregate on the wing in such numbers as the next 

 species. They scarcely ever alight on sand, being the most rock-frequenting species we have in Ceylon. 

 It is a powerful bird on the wing, but not any swifter than the next, and is not such a skilful " plunger," 

 displaying less agility than its smaller ally. It appears to rest during a great portion of the day; and I am 

 inclined to think, from the noise I used to hear at nights on the rocks opposite my quarters at Colombo, that 

 they are about a good deal at that time, perhaps fishing when the moon is sufficiently bright to enable them 

 to see their prey. Their note is a harsher and louder croak than that of the next species, and it is not so 

 frequently repeated on the wing ; but when there is not enough room to accommodate their numbers on a 

 small rock there is generally a good deal of clamour going on, the latest comers, and, as usual, the worst served, 

 attempting to settle down where it is not possible for them to do so, and flying up aud circling round their 

 more fortunate companions with loud cries. They course backwards and forwards over the same spot in search 

 of their food, which consists entirely of fish, upon which they pounce heavily, often nearly immersing them- 

 selves in the water. Layard speaks of them at the Cape of Good Hope resorting to the craft in the harbour, 

 and sitting on the mast-heads, along the bowsprit and taffrail as close as they can find room, knowing well that 

 the police regulations prohibit their being shot at among the shipping. 



Nidification.—Mr. Nevill, C.C.S., has taken the eggs of this Tern in June from a rocky islet, some little 

 distance from the shore, at Balapitiya, about 20 miles north of Galle. I am not sure that this is a regular 

 breeding-place; for in 1871, when I was at Galle, they did not appear to be breeding there, at least so far as 

 I could judge from inquiries made. They doubtless nest annually at some spot on the south coast ; and those 

 who are interested in oology ought to make a point of discovering their colonies, one of which may be on some 

 rocks near Hatagalla. In my notice of its distribution I have referred to several breeding-places of this 

 species, and one of the largest of these is that on the island of Astolah, in the Gulf of Oman. Captain E. A. 



