j 84o.] °f the Peninsula of India. 225 



This species appears tolerably common on the east coast of the 

 Peninsula, near Madras. 



404. — S. . — New species. 



Descr. — Head and nape blackish ; feathers edged with white ; body 

 above grey, beneath white ; bill deep lake red ; legs sienna. 

 Length 11 inches ; wing 8£ ; tail 3 ; bill at front I inch. 



Genus THALASSITES, Swains. 



405. — T. . — New species ? 



Descr.— Head and upper part of the neck glossy black, above light 

 grey ; beneath, and tail white ; bill orange red ; legs black. 



Length 21 inches; wing 16, reaching 8 inches beyond the tail, which 

 is 5£ ; bill at front 2 T %-th ; tarsus 1 T Vh. 



I have found this large Tern most abundant on the west coast of 

 India, at the mouths of rivers, but also far inland, frequenting tanks. 

 The young bird differs in the head being spotted white and black, in- 

 stead of being pure black. 



Genus LARUS, L.— Gull. 



406.— L. brunnicephalus ? . — New species?. — Brown-headed Gull. 



Descr. — Hood pale ashy brown, terminated by a darker edge; mantle 

 and wings light grey ; the rest of the body pure white ; bill and legs 

 deep lake red ; a half circle of white feathers round the back part of the eye. 



Length 19 inches ; wing 14 ; tail nearly 6 ; bill at front 1 \ ; tarsus 2. 



I have found this Gull common on the west coast of India, and also 

 inland above 200 miles, frequenting rivers and tanks. A Gull which 

 corresponds exactly in size with this one, and which I have usually seen 

 in company with it is probably the young bird. It differs in wanting 

 the brown hood, and in the tail being broadly tipped with black. 



407. — L. . — New species ? 



I possess only a young specimen of this Gull in the usual mottled plu- 

 mage, so shall content myself with giving its measurements. It was shot 

 200 miles inland. 



Length 2 feet ; wing 18 inches ; tail 8 ; bill (front) 1 -j^th ; tarsus 2 

 T %-th ; bill and legs yellowish. 



