THE WHITE-FKONTED TEEN 



77 



The White-fronted Tern. 



Sterna frontalis. 



New Zealand and Australian coasts. 



White at base of bill, crown and nape black, the feathers filamentous; 

 upper surface pale grey; outer web of first primary black, other 

 primaries edged with white to the tips of the inner webs; uuderparts 

 white, sometimes with pink tinge; bill black. Total length 16 to 17 

 inches, according to development of tail-streamers, culmen 2.2, wing 

 11.25, tail 7, depth of fork 4, tarsus 0.85. In moulting plumage the crown 

 and forehead are mottled with white. 



Toy. "Erebvs" and "Terror." 

 White-fronted Tern : Sterna frontalis. 



Breed in companies, the nest a slight depression in the 

 ground among short vegetation near the water. Two eggs are 

 usually laid, but sometimes three; they are greyish in colour 

 and strongly blotched with brown markings, those beneath the 

 surface being purplish-grey. They measure about 1.80 x 1.28 

 inch. 



