

GYGIS ALBA. 



"White Tern," Latham, Gen. Synops. iii. p. 363 (1785); Portlock, Voyage round the World, 



p. 312, pi. (1789). 

 Sterna alba, Sparrman, Mus. Caiisonianum, no. 11 (1786); Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 607 (1788). 

 Sterna Candida, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 607 (1788). 



Gygis Candida, Wagler, Isis, 1832, p. 1223; Saunders, Cat. B. Br. Mus. xxv. p. 149 (1896). 

 Gygis alba, Lichtenstein, Nomencl. Av. p. 97 (1854) ; Cassin, U.S. Expl. Exped. p. 389 (1858) 



(fig. of egg, p. 390) ; Dole, Proc. Boston Soc. N. H. 1869, p. 306; id. Haw. Alman. 1879, 



p. 56 ; Wiglesworth, Aves Polyn. p. 78 (1891) ; Rothschild, Avif. Laysan, p. 35, pis. (bird 



and eggs) (1893). 



[Several of the above citations refer to the Sandwich Islands and some other localities in the 

 Pacific Ocean. The list could easily be extended.] 



As will be seen from the synonymy, Mr. Dole included this species in both of his lists 

 of the birds of the Sandwich Islands, but in 1879 he was still uncertain as to whether it 

 was really found there. Since, however, Palmer subsequently met with it in abundance 

 on Laysan and Lisiansky Islands, where it was breeding on the rocks and among the 

 scrub, there can be little doubt that it visits the group first mentioned, at least 

 occasionally. The habits recorded by Palmer differ considerably, as Mr. Rothschild 

 tells us in his ' Avifauna of Laysan,' from those commonly observed in more southern 

 climes, where the bird habitually lays its egg on the branch of a tree. 



It should be mentioned that King (Voy. iii. p. 120, 1784) says that he observed a 

 " large White Pigeon" ; and this statement may possibly refer to the present species, as 

 what he saw certainly could not have been a Pigeon. 



Description. — Adult male and female. White, with a black ring round the eye ; bill 

 black ; feet dark brown, with yellow webs. 



Dimensions. — " Total length about 12 inches, culmen 1*8, wing 9-5, tail 4*25 to 5, 

 tarsus - 6, middle toe with claw 1*1 " (Saunders). 



