STERNA. 323 



others more nutneroua and extensive than the dark ones. In others 

 these dark markings are comparatively thinly sprinkled or dense ; 

 again there are some with huge blotches and spots about the larger 

 end. The eggs vary from 2"3 inches to 2"71 in lengthj and 1"63 to 

 1'78 in breadth; the average of 2 dozen was 2'46Xl*71. 



Sterna seeua, Sykes.; Hardw. III. Ind. Zool. pi. 69, 2. Sterna 

 aurantia, Gray; Jerd. B. Ind. iii. p. 838, 'So. 98^ • Sir. F. 1281 ; 

 Murray, Hdbh., Zool., Sfc, Bind, p. 248a. — "The Large Eitee Teen. 



Forehead, crown, nape and back of the neck and circle enclosing the 

 eye glossy black ; sides oi the face, chin and throat white ; breast and 

 abdomen pearly greyish white ; under tail-coverts white ;, tail pale grey, 

 the external feathers white ; back, secondaries, tertiaries and wing- 

 coverts pale or ashy grey ; primaries hoary or silvery grey, the inner 

 webs of the first three light brown, edged with dusky ; under wing- 

 coverts white ; upper tail-coverts like the back. In winter plumage 

 the head is white, except a circle of black or dasky round the eye and 

 on the ear-coverts; bill bright yellow, tipped dusky ; irides brown ; 

 legs and feet red. 



Length. — 15-0 to 16"3> inches, wing 11-0 to 11'5, bill at front 1-5, 

 tarsus 0-56 to I'O, tail 7-0 to 75. 



Hab. — Throughout India, also in Beloochistan and Persia. A per- 

 manent i-esident in Sind, afEects the rivers and lakes, also jheels. 

 Breeds in June and July. 



Sterna hybrida, Pall; Naum. Vog. t. 255; Yarr.. Br. B. 2nd 

 Ed., iii. fig. p. 512; Gould.. Br. Eur. pi. 424; Jerd. in. p. 887, No. 984; 

 Sir. F. iii. 348 ;, iv. 224 ; vii. 445 ; Murray, Edh/c, Zool, Sfc, Sind, 

 p. 248a. Sterna leucopareia, Natterer. Hydrochelidon indica, Steph. ; 

 Jerd. B. Ind. iii. p. 837.— The Small M'aesh. Teen. 



Forehead, crown, nape and back of neck glossy black ; lores and 

 chin white; throat and breast pale bluish ash ; abdomen dusky; under 

 tail-coverts white, also the edge of the wing ; mantle, wings, upper 

 tail-coverts and tail bluish ash; external tail feathers white; under 

 wing-coverts white ;. bill lake red ; irides brown ; legs and feet dull 

 red. 



Length.— 11 to 13 inches, wing 8-5 to 9-75, tail 3-75 to 4-5, bill 

 at front 1"5. 



Hab. — Throughout India^ affecting lakes and the sea coast. 



Sterna javanica, Eorsf. P. C. 434; Gould. B. of Asia, pi.; Jerd. 

 B. Ind. iii. p. 840, No. 987; Str. F. i. 282; iii. 348; vi. 492; Murray, 

 Edbk., Zool, Sfc, Sind, p. 248a. Sterna acuticauda, Gray, III. Ind. 

 Zool pi. 70, 3. — The Black-bellied Teen. 



Head and nape black ; neck behind black ; scapulars, tertials and 

 wing-coverts light grey; lores, sides of the face, ear-coverts, chm and 

 throat white ; neck in front and breast pearly grey ; abdomen, vent and 

 under tail-coverts brownish black. 



Bill orange yellow ; irides brown ; legs vermilion red. 



