212 MR. H. SAUNDERS ON THE LARIN.E. [Feb. 5. 



Anous cinereus (Neb.), Finscb and Hartl. F. Central- Polynesiens, 

 p. 239 (1867), Phoenix group, 3° 8' S., 171°W., nee Gould. 



Hab. Pacific, from a little north of the Equator ; Christmas Island ; 

 the Ellice group, 9° S., 179° E., whence there are two specimens in, 

 the British Museum recently obtained by the Rev. S. J. Whitmee ; 

 the Phoenix group ; and Honden Island, Low archipelago. 



Anous cinereus, Gould. 



Pelecanopus pelecanoides, G. R. Gray, L. Birds Brit. M. iii. p. 180 

 (Australia, presented by Sir T. Mitchell). 



Anous cinereus, Gould, P. Z. S. 1845, p. 104 (N.E. Australia); 

 id. B. Australia, vii. pi. 76 (1848), Norfolk I. and N.E. coast Aus- 

 tralia. 



Procelsterna albivitta, Bp. Compt. Reud.xlii. 1856, p. 773 ; Gould, 

 Hand-b. B. Austr. ii. p. 420 (1865) ; Gray, Hand-1. iii. p. 123 

 (1871). 



Sterna cinerea, Schlegel, M. P.-Bas, Sterna, p. 38 (1863), Aus- 

 tralia. 



Anous albivittatus, Finsch, P. Z. S. 1877, p. 770 (Eua, Friendly 

 group). 



Hab. Norfolk Island ; N.E. Australia and the Tonga or Friendly 

 group, in about 22° S., 1 75° W. It is presumably the species 

 observed by Mr. E. L. Layard in the Fiji group. 



The range of these two species appears to be nearly parallel, that 

 of A. cceruleus being the more northerly. A. cceruleus is smaller 

 than A. cinereus, Gould, and is darker all over, especially on the 

 underparts, which are blue-grey, whereas in A. cinereus they are 

 nearly white. The differences are too great to be explained away as 

 being due to age, and I admit the distinctness of the two species ; 

 but they are very closely allied. The fact of their being found in 

 such close proximity within so limited an area is very remarkable. 



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