Order LARIFORMES.] 



[Family LARIDiE. 



STERNA NEREIS. 



(LITTLE WHITE TERN.) 



Sterna nereis (Gould), Buller, Birds of New Zealand, vol. ii., p. 75. 



This little Tern is so rare with us, and so common on the Australian coast, that I am inclined to 

 accept Mr. Henry Travers' suggestion, that those we meet with are mere stragglers from the 

 neighbouring continent. 



It is not often that this species leaves the sea-coast ; but on one occasion I observed a 

 pair of them fishing in fresh water on the Papaitonga Lake, several miles from the sea. . They 

 were dipping into the water, with a tiny splash, at rapid intervals ; and, as there can be no white- 

 bait at this season (December), I much fear that they were regaling themselves on the fry of Loch 

 Leven trout, of which I had placed six thousand in the lake. 



In January, I saw a pair at the Wairoa Heads. They were fishing in roughish water, and 

 very near the surface. This bird does not appear to be gregarious, like the other members of the 

 genus. I have never seen more than a pair together. 



Mr. Hamilton states that on the Hawke's Bay coast this Tern is only seen during or after 

 heavy weather. 



A nestling, said to belong to this species, received from the Chatham Islands, is covered with 

 soft fulvous-coloured down, fading to creamy- white on the under parts, and thickly marked and 

 speckled on the upper surface with brownish-black ; bill dull yellow with black tips ; feet 

 dull yellow. 



I reprint the following from Dr. Ramsay's notes: "Eggs slightly pyriform, length (A) 

 1-39 in. to (B) 1'43 in. ; breadth (A and B) 1*02 in. The colour is of a light yellowish-brown 

 stone colour or creamy-buff ; one (A) thickly sprinkled all over with black dots and irregular 

 shaped spots, the other (B) has large black patches on the thicker end. These eggs were sent as 

 those of the ' Minute Tern,' from Tasmania, where the bird is common." 



PROCELSTERNA CINEREA. 



(THE LITTLE NODDY.) 



Anous cinereus, Gould ; Buller, Birds of New Zealand, yoI. ii., p. 78. 



I have received several specimens from the Kermadec Islands, where it is somewhat common. I 

 have never heard of its occurrence on the New Zealand coast. 



Mr. North, writing of this bird in Australia, says ■ " This species was found breeding in the 

 early part of September, also during the month of November. The eggs were rather difficult to 

 obtain. For the purposes of breeding, this bird usually resorts to almost inaccessible ledges of 



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