THE GREY NODDY 79 



Nest a slight depression in the ground; they often nest in 

 small companies. Two eggs are laid, and are of buff or cream 

 colour, and marked with spots of various shadas of brown, the 

 under markings being purplish-grey. Dimensions 1.4 x 1 inch. 



The White-shafted Ternlet. 



Sterna sinensis. 



China and Indian seas to Australia. 



Lores black from the base of the bill to the eye, forehead white, 

 crown and nape black, mantle grey; outer web of outer primaries and 

 broad line next the shaft on its inner web dark grey; upper portions and 

 edges of inner webs, tail and underparts white. Total length 11 inches 

 when streamers are fully developed, culmen 1.4, wing 7.4, tail 5.7, depth 

 of fork 3.4, tarsus 0.65. 



Nest a slight depression on the ground. Two to three eggs 

 are laid, greyish in coloiir, and marked with small blotches of 

 reddish-brown, the underneath markings being grey. The 

 measurements are about 1.29 x .98 inch. 



The Black-naped Tern. 



Sterna melanauchen. 



The seas of Northern Australia, Pacific Islands, Malay Peninsula, 

 and China. 



Forehead and crown white, black patch in front of eye; behind the 

 eye on each side and enclosing the nape a black band; neck white, mantle 

 light grey; the outer primary with the outer web blackish, the inner 

 margins of the primaries, white; tail long and forked, the middle 

 feathers being light grey, the rest white; underparts white with rosy 

 tint; bill black. Total length, 13.5 inches, culmen 1.6, wing 8.5, tail 6, 

 depth of fork 3, tarsus 0.7. 



Nest a slight depression on the sand, generally on coral 

 islands. The two eggs are greyish or light stone, marked with 

 bold blotches of reddish-brown, the underneath markings being 

 purplish-grey. They measure about 1.59 x 1.11 inch. 



The Grey Noddy. 



Procelsterna cinerea. 



Australian and New Zealand seas, Norfolk and neighbouring islands, 

 Kermadeo Group, and western coast of South America. 



Similar to, but larger than, the preceding species, much paler on the 

 tipper surface, well defined greyish- white "wedges" to the inner webs 

 of the three outer primaries, underparts greyish-white, under wing-coverts 

 white, bill black. Total length 11 inches, culmen 1.25, wing 8.5, tail 4.5, 

 depth of fork 2, tarsus 1. 



