stated by Mr. Howard Saunders, there is a specimen in the British Museum from the Cape of 

 Good Hope. 



To the eastward] the present species ranges as far as India. It is found on the Caspian ; 

 Eichwald speaks of it as being common there ; and De Filippi obtained it at Enzeli, and at 

 Mianah on the Persian plateau. Dr. Severtzoff states that it breeds in Turkestan ; and, according 

 to Dr. Henderson, it is common and breeds in Yarkand. Dr. Jerdon writes (B. of India, ii. 

 p. 841) : — " This minute Tern is most abundant at the mouths of tidal rivers and backwaters on 

 the Malabar coast, and is more rare apparently on the east coast. Inland I have only found it 

 on the Ganges, in small parties. It nidificates in this country, on sandbanks in the Ganges, 

 near Mirzapore, where it was found breeding by Mr. Brooks." Dr. Henderson says (Lahore to 

 Yarkand, p. 303) that it is "common in Yarkand, where it is called 'Balakchi.' A young bird, 

 apparently just fledged, was caught in the neighbourhood of the city of Yarkand on the 26th of 

 August ; so that the bird must breed there." How far to the east the present species ranges I am 

 unable to state with any degree of certainty ; but I have examined examples from the Irrawady 

 valley, and from Tonghoo, in Burmah, and I observe that these specimens, though undoubtedly 

 referable to the present species, have the shafts of the primaries lighter in colour than in 

 European specimens. On the Chinese coast, in the Celebes, and, according to Mr. Saunders, 

 also in Ceylon, the present species is replaced by an allied form, Sterna sinensis, Gmel. (Syst. Nat. 

 i. p. 608, 1788), which differs in being somewhat larger and stouter, in having the lateral tail- 

 feathers rather longer, and the shafts of the outer primaries white. This form is found also in 

 Queensland and along the Australian coast. 



Nor does Sterna minuta occur in America, being there replaced by Sterna antillarmn, Less. 

 (Descr. Mamm et Ois. p. 256, 1848), and Sterna superciliaris, Vieill. (Nouv. Diet, xxxii. p. 126, 

 1819). Mr. Howard Saunders, who (P. Z. S. 1876, pp. 661-663) carefully points out the distinc- 

 tive characters between the species allied to Sterna minuta, says that Sterna antillarmn, which 

 ranges throughout temperate America, on both coasts down to the Antilles, Trinidad, lat. 10° N., 

 differs from Sterna minuta in having the rump and upper tail-coverts pearl-grey and not white, 

 and there is but little black at the tip of the bill. Sterna superciliaris, which, he says, " is found 

 on all the large South- American rivers, from the Parana upwards, is plentiful on the Amazons 

 and the Ucayali, and abundant on the river Huallaga still further west," resembles Sterna antil- 

 larmn, but has the back, rump, and tail rather darker, the bill stouter and entirely yellow, and 

 the legs and feet olivaceous. I need only add that, after a careful comparison of the specimens 

 in Messrs. Salvin and Godman's collection, I can confirm the statements made by Mr. Saunders 

 as to the distinctions between the above species. 



On the wing the Little Tern is exceedingly graceful and buoyant, and in power of flight 

 equals any one of its allies ; and in its general habits it probably assimilates closer to the common 

 Tern than any other species. When hovering over the surface of the water in search of food, its 

 bill is pointed downward ; and when it drops onto the water to seize a fish it not unfrequently 

 immerses the entire body. I have frequently seen them hovering almost in the same place, only 

 now and then altering their position somewhat, over a small pool, every now and again dropping, 

 with upraised wings, onto the surface of the water, and rising almost immediately with a small 

 fish. During the breeding-season this Tern does not range far from its breeding-haunts, but 



