402 APPENDIX. 



HYDROOHELIDON HYBRIDA, Pallas. 

 ; Marsh-Tern. 



Gould, Handbk. Bds. Aust, Vol. ii., sp. 610, p. 406. 



Mr. K. H. Bennett of Yandembah, has recently obtained a 

 fine and varied series of the eggs of this inland Tern, which he 

 has forwarded with the accompanying interesting notes : — " On 

 the 31st of October I discovered the breeding place of the little 

 Marsh-Tern, Uydrochelidon hyhrida, in a swamp overgrown with 

 dwarf Polygmium bushes. About a week previously when riding 

 around tliis swamp I was led to tlie conclusion that these birds 

 intended breeding there, as numbers were flying about above the 

 water whilst many others were perched on the slender tops of 

 the dwarf Polygonum bushes which projected a few inches above 

 the water, and I also noticed that several of the birds flying about 

 were carrying rushes in tlieir bills. I made a careful search at 

 the time, but beyond finding a few green rushes placed in a loose 

 careless manner on the top of one of the Polygonv^ bushes, I saw 

 nothing else to indicate that it was a contemplated breeding site. 

 On visiting the place to day I observed numbers of the birds on 

 the tops of the bushes, but not more than one on each bush, whilst 

 numbers were also flying about in an excited manner and as I 

 neared the edge of the swamp, kept up a continuous croaking. 

 On wading in for a closer examination, I found that each bird 

 was sitting on a nest (if nest such a structure could be called) each 

 of which contained from one to three eggs, the latter number 

 apparently being the full set. These nests were simply a few 

 green rushes, in most cases quite flat, and the whole structure 

 rising and falling with the motion of the water, caused by a slight 

 breeze, and it was a mystery to me how the birds managed to 

 leave or return to the nests without knocking the eggs ofi". 

 Although this swamp is of considerable extent and similar 

 throughout, the breeding place was confined to a space of not 

 more than twenty yards square, showing that like Sterna anglica, 

 they breed in companies." 



On the 11th of December, Mr. Bennett writes as follows: — 

 " To day I passed the swamp in which I obtained the Marsh- 



