644 MR. H. SAUNDERS ON THE STERNIN^E. [June 20, 



Phaetusa magnirostris, Wagler, Isis, 1832, p. 1224 (type of genus 

 Phaetusa) ; Scl. & Salvin, P. Z. S. 18/1, p. 567 ; Gray, Hand- 

 list, iii. p. 120 (1871). 



Sylochelidon magnirostris, Blasius, J. f. Orn. 1866, p. 82. 



This large-billed Tern with a slightly forked tail, but with amply 

 webbed feet, is found far up the great rivers and along the coasts of 

 tropical America from the equator down to about 35° S. Its eggs, 

 which are deposited on the sandbanks, are similar in character to 

 those of S. anglica ; and taking all its characters into consideration, 

 without relying only on the shape of the bill, it is difficult to allow its 

 generic distinction without admitting a host of other and confusing 

 genera. 



Sterna anglica, Mont. 



Sterna anglica, Mont. Orn. Diet. Suppl. (1813) (type in Brit. 

 Mus.); Schlegel, Mus. P.-Bas, Sternce, p. 34 (1863) ; Degl. & Gerbe, 

 Orn. Eur. ii. p. 450 (1867). 



Sterna aranea, Wilson, Am. Orn. viii. p. 143, pi. 72. fig. 6 (1814). 



Sterna affinis, Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. 1820, xiii. p. 199 (type 

 examined in E. 1. Mus., H. S.). 



Thalasseus anglicus, Boie, Isis, 1822, p: 563. 



Viralva anglica, Steph. in Shaw's Gen. Zool. xiii. pt. i. p. 174 (1826). 



Gelochelidon balthica, Brehm, H. Vog. Deutsch. p. 772 (1831). 



Gelochelidon meridionalis, Brehm. H.Yog. Deutsch. p. 774 (1831) 

 type of genus Gelochelidon. 



Laropis anglica, Wagler, Isis, 1832, p. 1225 (type of Laropis). 



Sterna macrotarsa, Gould, P. Z. S. 1837, p. 26. 



Gelochelidon anglica, Coues, Proc. Phil. Ac. 1862, p. 536; Jerdon, 

 B. India, iii. p. 836 (1864) ; Blasius, J. f. Orn. 1866, p. 82 ; Scl. & 

 Salvin, P. Z. S. 1871, p. 572; Coues, B. N.W. Am. p. 664 (1874). 



Gelochelidon macrotarsa, Gould, B. Austr. Suppl. pi. 81 (1869)., 

 Handbk. B. Austr. ii. p. 403 (1865); Grav, Hand-list, iii. p. 119 



Gelochelidon nilotica, Gray, Hand-list, iii. p. 119 (1871). 



Gelochelidon aranea, Gray, Hand-list, iii. p. 119 (18/1). 



In this case also, in spite of its stout bill, the short and somewhat 

 rounded lateral feathers of the tail, and the long hind toe, I do not 

 think we can consistently allow a generic distinction without admit- 

 ting a number of indifferent genera. In its habits this bird appears to 

 partake rather of the nature of the Sea-, than of the Marsh- or River- 

 Terns, and although the shape of the tail is somewhat rounded as in 

 Hydrochelidon, it must be remembered that S. caspia has a similar 

 tail, and that both these species have the strong and fully webbed 

 feet of the Sea-Terns. On the whole it would seem advisable to avoid 

 undue multiplication of genera by retaining this species amongst the 

 Sternce. 



It is now generally admitted that the American S. aranea is 

 identical with the European bird ; and I can see no ground for con- 

 sidering Mr. Gould's Sterna macrotarsa from Australia to be spe- 

 cifically distinct. The range of the species is therefore from 

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