1876.] MR. H. SAUNDERS ON THE STERNIN^E. 6/1 



Finsch & Hartl. F. Centralpolynesiens, p. 237 (1867); Gray, 

 Hand-list, iii. p. 123 (1871). 



Sterna leucocapilla, Schlegel, M. Pays-Bas, Sternce, p. 37 (1863). 



This form is apparently less widely diffused than some of its con- 

 geners. Mr. Gould's specimens were obtained at Raines Islet, Aus- 

 tralia, where it is said to be very abundant. There is a specimen 

 in the British Museum, from Bristow Island, south coast of New 

 Guinea (from which the figure Plate LXI. fig. 3, is taken) ; and 

 the United- States Exploring Expedition found it breeding at Pau- 

 motu Island, where its single egg was deposited upon the bare 

 ground instead of in a nest. There is no grey about the head or 

 cheeks, but, with the exception of the white crown, the whole 

 plumage is of a sooty brown- black ; the foot is perhaps a trifle more 

 slender in A. tenuirostris or A. melanogenys ; but it is difficult to 

 judge from dried skins. 



Anous c^ruleus (Bennett). 



Sterna ccerulea, F. D. Bennett, Narr. Whaling- Voy. round Globe, 

 ii. App. p. 248 (1840) — Christmas Island and other coral forma- 

 tions of the Pacific. 



"Sterne cendre," Neboux, Rev. Zool. Oct. 1840, p. 291. 



Sterna teretirostris, Lafresnaye, Rev. Zool. 1849, p. 242. 



Procelstema tereticollis, Lafresnaye, Rev. Zool. 1842, pi. 29 (type 

 of Procelstema) . 



Stolida cinerea, Neboux, Voy. Venus, Atlas, pi. 9 (1846). 



Anous cinereiis, Gould, P. Z. S. 1845, p. 104 ; id. B. Australia, vii. 

 pi. 46 (1848)— Norfolk I. and N.E. coast, Australia; Prevost & 

 Des Murs, Voy. Venus, v. p. 276 (1855) ; Finsch & Hartlaub, F. 

 Centralpolynesiens, p. 239 (1867). 



Anous parvulus, Gould, P. Z. S. xiii.(1845) p. 104 ; Cassin, U.S. 

 Expl. Exp., Birds, p. 393 (1858)— Paumotu group. 



Pelecanopus pelecanoides !, G. R. Gray, List of Birds in Brit. Mus. 

 pt. iii. p. 180 (Jide Gould, ut supra). 



Megalopterus plumbeus, Peale, U.S. Expl. Exp. p. 285 (1848). 



Procelstema albivitta, Bp. Compt. Rend. 1856, p. 773; Gould, 

 Hand-b. B. Austr. ii. p. 420 (1865); Gray, Hand-list, iii. p. 123 

 (1871). 



Sterna cinerea, Schlegel, M. P.-B. Sternce, p. 38 (1863). 



Procelstema cinerea, Gray, Hand-list, iii. p. 123 (1871). 



I have much pleasure in restoring to this well-defined species the 

 name originally given to it by Mr. F. Debell Bennett, whose speci- 

 men from Christmas Island is described by Mr. Gould in P. Z. S. 

 xiii. (1845) p. 104, under the name of Anous parvulus, in ignorance, 

 no doubt, of the fact that Mr. Bennett had already given it a name 

 accompanied by an excellent description. It may always be recog- 

 nized by its pale grey head, neck, and underparts, and somewhat 

 darker upper parts, the colour becoming deeper on the tail ; the 

 primaries are the darkest part ; and the secondaries are broadly 

 tipped with white, forming a distinct band. Neboux' s figure is too 

 dark ; and, in spite of the vellow-coloured webs to the feet peculiar 



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