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



sequence been generally referred to that species. On the other hand 

 there can be no possible doubt as to the identity of Gray's descrip- 

 tion, accompanied as it is by a plate of the adult bird. I think, 

 therefore, that it is desirable to retain the name of &. frontalis, in 

 preference to making a change which might be considered arbitrary, 

 and would certainly be productive of temporary confusion. 



In the white border to the inner webs of the primaries this Tern 

 resembles S. dougalli, as remarked by Mr. Gould ; it is, however, 

 larger than that species, although not equal in size to S. cantiaca ; 

 and the white frontal band and black bill will always serve to di- 

 stinguish it. 



It appears to be a true Sea-Tern, breeding, according to Mr. 

 Buller, in large colonies, and depositing its single egg on the bare 

 rock, close to high-water mark. I have not seen specimens of the 

 eggs ; but, from the description, they seem to approach those of S. 

 cantiaca in their general character. 



Under the name of S. melanorhyncha, Mr. Gould records the oc- 

 currence on the coast of Tasmania of a Tern which appears to be 

 identical with this species ; but with that exception it does not seem 

 to leave the shores of New Zealand. 



Sterna trtjdeatjii, Audubon. 



Sterna trudeauii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. p. 125 ; id. B. Am. vii. p. 105 

 (1844) ; Lawr. B. N. Am. p. 8(31 (1860) ; Schl. Mus. P.-B. Sterna, 

 p. 29 (1863) ; Gray, Hand-list, iii. p. 118 (1871); Scl. & Salv. P. 

 Z. S. 1871, p. 570 (Neotrop. Lar.) ; Landb. An. Univ. Chile, 

 1872, p. 515 ; Coues, B. N.W. Am. p. 675 (1874). 



Phcetusa trudeauii, Blasius, J. f. Orn. 1866, p. 73. 



Sterna frobeenii, Ph. & Landb. Wieg. Arch. 1863, p. 125 ; Cat. 

 Av. Chil. p. 49 (fide Scl. & Salv.) ; Landbeck, An. Univ. Chile, 

 1872, p. 515 ; Gray, Hand-list, iii. p. 118 (1871). 



This well-marked species is similar in size, shape of bill, and 

 general plumage to S. forsteri in winter dress ; but, unlike the ma- 

 jority of Terns, it never has the crest black, the crown being pure 

 white, with only a transocular line on each side of the head; the 

 mantle, wings, and tail are light grey ; the rump white, and the feet 

 yellow. It occurs along the coast of South Brazil and the Argentine 

 provinces, and also on that of Chili ; but of its breeding-places and 

 eggs nothing is yet known ; indeed, until lately, even skins were 

 extremely rare in collections. 



Messrs. Sclater & Salvin and Dr. E. Coues are doubtful as to 

 the type of this species having been really obtained on the coast of 

 New Jersey — a doubt in which I share ; but there is now no means 

 of disproving Audubon's statement. With regard to S. frobeeni, 

 which Messrs. Sclater and Salvin identified with this species, Mr. 

 L. Landbeck, in the ' Anales de la Universidad de Chile,' maintains 

 their distinctness, and gives an elaborate comparative description 

 of each, the result of which is, to my mind, to show more clearly 

 than ever that his S. frobeeni is merely the present bird in immature 

 plumage. 

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