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Tangier, one having been shot in May 1869, at Sharf-el-Akab. Dr. Hartlaub does not include 

 it in his list of birds found in West Africa, though he includes the Black Tern; but it is 

 certainly found in Damara Land, whence a specimen was sent by Mr. Andersson, who writes 

 (B. of Damara L. p. 363) as follows: — "I have never seen this Tern on the sea-shore; but it is 

 common on many inland fresh-water lakes, and during the wet season hunts over the temporary 

 rain-pools." I find no other record of its occurrence in South Africa, except that Mr. Ayres 

 sent one from the Transvaal, which he says (Ibis, 1871, p. 267) was shot on the 26th June, 1869, 

 whilst hovering over the marsh near Potchefstroom ; and Mr. T. E. Buckley also writes (Ibis, 1874, 

 p. 391), respecting its occurrence in that part of Africa, as follows : — " Seen in Transvaal, on our 

 way down, in flocks frequenting the marshes and lagoons." 



To the eastward it is met with as far as China. Mr. Blanford, in his work on the orni- 

 thology of Persia, merely says that it is found on the Caspian, where De Filippi also records 

 it as extremely abundant. Severtzoff states (Turk. Jevotnie, p. 70) that "H. niger" breeds in 

 Turkestan ; and I have no doubt that the bird referred to under that name is the present species. 

 It inhabits Siberia, and would appear to range much higher to the north there than in Europe ; 

 for Pallas states that it is found on the Ob and in Kamtschatka. Dr. Radde says that he found 

 it most numerous on the Schilka in May 1857, and only saw five individuals on the steppes of 

 the Tarei-nor; down the river, below the mouth of the Dseja, he adds, it was very rare. Von 

 Schrenck only met with it once on the Lower Amoor, near Dshare, on the 30th July, and says 

 that Mr. Maack obtained it near the mouth of the Ssungari on the 10th July. According to 

 Mr. Swinhoe it occurs throughout China; but I find no record of its occurrence in Japan. 

 Professor Schlegel includes a specimen from Northern Celebes, collected by Forsten, amongst 

 those belonging to the Leyden Museum ; and it has even been obtained in New Zealand and 

 Australia. Mr. Buller (B. of N. Z. p. 287) says that Mr. D. Monro shot a pair on the Waihopai 

 river-bed, in the Province of Nelson, on the 12th December, 1868; and he also adds that it has 

 been obtained in Australia. According to Dr. Elliott Coues it has also occurred once in America ; 

 for Mr. Thure Kumlein obtained one in Wisconsin on the 5th July, 1873, in full breeding- 

 dress. 



In habits the present bird much resembles the Black Tern, with which species it frequently 

 consorts, one or two pairs of the present species being sometimes found breeding in a colony of 

 the Black Tern. In the full spring plumage, however, the present species may be easily distin- 

 guished from Hydrochelidon nigra by its black under wing-coverts, as well as by the white on 

 the wing, and other differences, the first-named character being perhaps the most perceptible as 

 the bird is on the wing overhead. Its voice is also different from that of the Black Tern, and is 

 louder and harsher ; so that it may be distinguished by that alone. It is a swifter and more agile 

 bird in its flight than the Black Tern, being, it is said by those who have had opportunities of 

 frequently watching it, the quickest of all the Terns in its movements whilst on the wing. As 

 above stated, it is gregarious, and breeds in company not only with others of its own species, but 

 with other allied Terns, selecting for the purpose of nidification swamps, often far inland and in 

 almost inaccessible places. It is seldom seen swimming in the water, though (like many of its 

 allies) it swims buoyantly and with ease. Nor does it often walk ; for its short legs make that 

 mode of progression somewhat difficult; but it may not unfrequently be seen sitting on some 



