G66 MR. H. SAUNDERS ON THE STERNIN/E. [June 20, 



B. Sterna?, p. 27 (1863); Finsch & Hartl. F. Centralpolyn. p. 231, 

 pi. xiii. fig. 3 (1867;. 



Haliplana lunata, Bias. J. f. Orn. 1866, p. 80; Gray, Hand-list, 

 iii. p. 122 (1871). 



This species is rather larger than the preceding ; but the webs of 

 the toes are similarly incised ; the general colour is much greyer. 

 Its range appears to be somewhat restricted, extending from the 

 Moluccas to the Phenix and the Paumatu groups of the Polynesian 

 Islands. There are no specimens in the British Museum ; but I 

 have examined those at Leyden, and find it a well marked species. 



Sterna fuliginosa, Gm. 



Sterna fuliginosa, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 605 (1788); Aud.B.N. Am. 

 vii. p. 90, pi. 432 (1840) ; Temm. & Schl. Fauna Japonica, p. 133, 

 pi. 89 (1842) ; Lawr. B. N. Am. p. 861 (1858) ; Cassin, Orn. U.S. 

 Expl. Exp. p. 386 (1858); Finsch & Hartl. Orn. Centralpolyn. p. 225 

 (1867), Vog. Ost-Afr. p. 831 (1870) ; Harting, Brit. Birds, p. 169 

 (1872). 



Onychoprion fuliginosus, Wagler, Isis, 1832, p. 277 (type of 

 genus Onychoprion, based on <S. serrata of J. R. Forster's MS. Descr. 

 An. p. 276, ed. Licht. 1844); Gould, B. Australia, vii. pi. 32 

 (1848) ; Sclater, P. Z. S. 1856, p. 144 (I. Ascension); Scl. & Salv. 

 P.Z.S. 1871, p. 573. 



Planelis guttatus, Wagler, Isis, 1832, p. 1222 (type of genus 

 Planetis, based on S. guttata of J. R. Forster's MS. Desc. An. 

 p. 211, ed. Licht. 1844). 



Haliplana fuliginosa, Wagl. Isis, 1832, p. 1224 (type of genus 

 Haliplana) ; Bp. Compt. Rend. 1856, p. 772 ; Coues, Pr. Phil. 

 Acad. 1862, p. 556 ; id. B. N. W. Am. p. 698 (1874); Gray, Hand- 

 list, ii. p. 122 (1871). 



Sterna infuscata, Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 81 (1823) (type in 

 Berlin Mus. examined, H. S.). 



Anous Vherminieri, Lesson, Desc. Mamm. et Ois. p. 255 (1847). 



Sterna gouldii, Reichenbach, Schwimmvog. Supp. xii. fig. 829. 



Sterna luctuosa, Phil. & Landb. Wiegm. Arch. p. 126 (1866). 



Thalassipora infuscata, Gray, Hand-list, iii. p. 122(1871). 



"Haliplana fuliginosa, var. crissalis, Baird," Lawr. (Grayson) 

 Proc. Bost. N.H. S. 1871, p. 285. 



It will be observed that Wagler has based no less than three genera 

 upon this single species — the first, Onychoprion, depending upon 

 a supposed serration of the claw, evidently due to natural causes in 

 the specimen he had before him, while the other two genera are based 

 upon the slightest of structural differences. I confess I cannot see any 

 good reason for erecting it into a genus, especially in view of the 

 connecting-link formed by the preceding species. 



Both this species and S. ancEstheta range throughout the whole 

 of the warmer portions of the world, there being no perceptible dif- 

 ference between individuals from the most widely separated locali- 

 ties. It is said that at Ascension Island the Sootv Terns, or 

 [30] 



