232 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 
than the Silsilis specimens, having the head still profusely 
mottled. The Caspian Tern* breeds in January in the 
region of the Zambesi (Ibis, 1864, p. 337). 
Oss. COMMON TERN, Sterna fluviatilis (Naum.). 
At Menzaleh I observed some small Terns which 
may have been S. fluviatilis. Hasselquist gives 
a long description of a Tern which comes to 
Trajan’s canal in great flocks in the beginning 
of January, but I cannot satisfactorily make it 
out, . 
206. WHISKERED TERN, Hydrochelidon hybrida (Natt.). 
I confess I doubt this being a resident species (cf. 
Heugl. Syst. Ubers, No. 734), though it became excessively 
common after the 26th of April. In many parts the Nile 
was covered with them, as they slowly beat up against the 
north wind, which prevailed very much in the beginning of 
May, and which was no doubt detaining them. I recollect 
one evening at dusk I observed these Terns feeding upon the 
yellow-dun fly in company with hundreds of Bats. The 
intensity of colour on the breast varied much, the darker 
being of course in summer garb. 
* In the Dover Museum there is a very young Caspian Tern with 
some down on the head. It was brought quite fresh to the Curator 
(still in the flesh I believe), and must have been killed not very far off. 
He told me that the man who brought it was a foreigner. It is 
possible that it came from Sylt; if on the other hand it was a 
British-killed one, it was very interesting in that state. It is not the 
example mentioned at p. 265 of “The Note-Book of a Naturalist,” by 
E. P. Thompson, who I believe started the Museum at Dover, 
