200 LARID^. 



Genus GYGIS, Wngler. 



Gygis alba (Sparrm.). 



Gygis Candida, Oould, Handb. Birds Austr. ii. p. 405 (1865) ; Milne- 

 Edwards 8f Orandidier, Hist. Nat. Maday., Ois. ii. p. 660, pi. 308. 

 figs. 5, 5 o (1885) ; Crowfoot, Ibis, 1885, p. 266 ; North, Nests §• Eggs 

 Austr. Birds, p. 374, pi. xxi. fig. 4 (1889^ ; Lister, P. Z. S. 1891, 

 p. 297 ; Saunders, Cat. Birds B. M. xxv. p. 149 (1896). 



Gygis alba, Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 138 (1899). 



The eggs of the "White Tern are more uniformly elliptical in shape 

 than those of any other member of this Family. The ground varies 

 and is dull white, cream-colour, stone-colour or pale buff. The 

 markings are of an. extraordinary character, consisting of scrolls, 

 lines, specks, spots and blotches, thickly spread over the egg, and 

 forming a very handsome pattern. The surface-markings vary from 

 pale yellowish brown to brown and blackish brown, and the under- 

 lying markings are of a pale purple colour. In some examples the 

 markings, although everywhere dense, are still more crowded at the 

 larger end and form a zone. Numerous specimens vary from 1"52 

 to 1*8 in length, and from 1-17 to 1'32 in breadth. 



3. Ascension Island (Dr. Oill). Saupders OoU. 



3. Mauritius. Sir E. Belcher [PA 



4. Rodriguez Island (H. H. Slater). Transit of Venus Exped. 



1. Ducie Island, South Pacific. Saunders Coll. 



2. Phoenix Island *, Phoenix Group, J. J. Lister, Esq. [P.]. 



29th June. 

 2. Canton Island*, Phoenix Group, 1st J. J. Lister, Esq. [P.]. 



July. 

 1. Hull Island* Phoenix Group, 11th J. J. Lister, Esq. [P.]. 



July. 



Sub-Family RHYNCHOPINtE. 



Genus EHYNCHOPS, Linn. 



Rhynchops nigra, Linn. 



(Plate XV. fig. 8.) 



Khynchops nigra, Thien. Fortpflamz. ges. Vog. tab. Ixxxii. fig. 1 (1845-54); 

 Baird, Brewer 8; JRidgw. Water Birds N. Am. ii. p. 192 (1884) ; 

 Saunders, Cat. Birds B. M. xx\. p. 153 (1896) ; Sharpe, Hand-l. i. 

 p. 138 (1899). 



The eggs of the Black Skimmer vary from a long and narrow to a 

 broad pointed, oval form. The ground varies from cream-colour to 



* These eggs may possibly be tbose of the closely allied G. MUlifzi, 

 Hartert, but no specimen of the bird from the Phoenix Islands is available for 

 examination. 



