18/6. j Mil. H. SAUNDERS ON THE STERN1N.E. G43 



Scl. & Salvia, P. Z. S. 1871, p. 573; Coues, Proa Phil. Acad. 

 (1862), p. 554 ; G. R. Gray, Hand-list, iii. p. 121 (1871).. 



Hydrochelidon plumbea, Lawr. B. N. Am. p. 864 (1858) ; et 

 al. auct. Am. 



Pelodes surinamensis, Gray, Hand-list, iii. p. 122 (1871). 



Hydrochelidon lariformis, Coues, B. N.W. Am. p. 704 (1874). 



" Sterna ccesia, Linn." Gundlach, J. f. Orn. 1875, p. 393, (? error 

 for S. ncevia). 



Sterna nigra of Linnseus (Syst. Nat. p. 227, 1766) is based upon 

 his Sterna 159 of the 'Fauna Suecica ' ed. 1761, in which he accu- 

 rately describes the Black Tern, adding that " it is found on the 

 small reedy islands about Upsala." This can only refer to the 

 present species, as the White-winged Black Tern is one of the rarest 

 of stragglers to any part of Sweden. Linnaeus also refers to Albin's 

 plate and description, Av. ii. p. 82, pis. 89 & 90, which are unmis- 

 takable. There is therefore no warranty whatever for identifying 

 his S. nigra with the south-eastern species. I have gone carefully 

 into the question ; and any one who is willing to take the trouble 

 of examining the matter for himself will, I have no doubt, share 

 my opinion. 



In almost all the adult American specimens which I have ex- 

 amined, about a dozen in number, the black of the underparts is of 

 a deeper and more sooty brown tint than in any European examples 

 out of upwards of a hundred from various localities, the black being 

 as dark as in H. leucoptera, an intensity of hue which our form 

 never possesses. In two or three examples, however, all females, the 

 lightest-coloured American birds approach more closely to very dark 

 specimens from Europe ; and in the young and winter plumage the 

 two forms are absolutely undistinguishable ; so that any specific 

 separation is out of the question. This species is found throughout 

 Europe, Palestine, and N. Africa to the Nile; to S. Africa it appears 

 to go only as a winter and somewhat rare visitant, as I only know 

 of one example, obtained 4th Jan. 1871 at the Cameroons (the 

 birds collected by Mr. Ayres and others being H. leucoptera in 

 immature plumage) ; nor do I know of its occurrence in India. In 

 America it ranges throughout and across the northern continent, 

 visiting the West Indies and Spanish main on the one side, and 

 going as far south as Peru and Chili on the Pacific coast in winter. 



Genus Sterna, Linn. (part). 

 Sterna magnirostris, Licht. 



Sterna magnirostris, Licht. Verzeichniss Doubl. p. 81 (1823) 

 (type in Berlin Mus. ; examined, H. S.) ; Max. v. Wied, Beit. iv. 

 p." 861 (1833); Tschudi, F. Per. Aves, p. 305 (1846); Schlegel, 

 Mus. P.-Bas, Sterna, p. 12 (1863). 



" Sterna speculifera, Temm.," Lesson, T. d'Orn. p. 622 (1831) ; 

 Pucheran, Rev. Zool. 1850, p. 544. 



"Sterna albifrons, Cuv.," Lesson, Tr. d'Orn. p. 622 (1831) (sp. 

 in Paris Mus. examined, H. S.). 



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