STEENID^ STEKNA 435 



Description. Male in breeding plumage. — Forehead, crown and 

 nape black, rest of the upper surface pale french grey, palest on the 

 rump; primaries at first grey but soon becoming darker and slaty, 

 especially on the inner webs ; the white streaks on the inner webs 

 not marked ; below pure white. 



Iris reddish-brown ; bill vermilion-red, sometimes horny towards 

 the tip ; feet black. 



Length about 22-0; wing 160; tail 6-0; depth of the fork 1-20; 

 culmen 3'0; tarsus 1-70. 



The female is very similar, but slightly smaller and with a 

 weaker and less brightly coloured bill; in non-breeding plumage the 

 forehead, crown and nape are streaked with white and black, the 

 bill is orange red with a horn-coloured tip. A young bird is like 

 the adult in non-breeding plumage but the orbital patch is darker, 

 and there is a good deal of brownish mottling on the back and 

 wings. 



Distribution. — The Caspian Tern is found almost all over the 

 world with the exception of Central and South America and the 

 Islands of the Pacific ; it is generally distributed along the coast of 

 Africa and Madagascar and has been noticed on the Nile as high 

 as Khartoum. It is not uncommon on the South African coasts 

 and has been recorded from Walvisch Bay by Andersson and Fleck, 

 from St. Helena Bay, where it was found breeding, by Mr. Kotze, 

 from Table Bay by Layard, from Algoa Bay by Eickard, and where 

 Mr. Brown tells me it is fairly common, and from the mouth of the 

 Zambesi by Kirk ; I recently obtained a fine male specimen from 

 Dyer's Island off the coast of the Caledon district, where I was told 

 it bred. 



Habits. — This, the largest of all the Terns, is as a rule found 

 singly or in pairs on the south coast, though sometimes it affects 

 large rivers and inland waters; it lives almost exclusively on fish 

 and usually flies with its beak turned downwards at right angles to 

 its body; it has a loud harsh note " Krake kra" to which it gives 

 vent especially when its breeding grounds are disturbed. 



Andersson states that when on the wing it usually pursues a 

 steady flight, and at a distance bears considerable resemblance to 

 a Gull; it utters at intervals, especially when fishing, harsh and 

 discordant notes ; where not previously disturbed it is not particu- 

 larly shy or difficult to approach ; but when once it knows a gun it 

 becomes exceedingly cunning. This Tern usually deposits its eggs 

 on low sandy islands or shores of the sea making little or no nest. 



