202 MALAYAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



tinged with yellowish-green, which is the case, I believe, only during 

 the breeding season. The difference between the plumages of the 

 sexes is very marked, the female being of much duller colours 

 than the male. 



The following speciinems I shot in Perak daring April, 1877 : — 



Male. Length 12| to 13 inches; irides crimson; legs and feet 

 greenish-yellow tinged with black ; webs black ; face, neck and 

 whole of the underpar.ts pure glossy white ; a deep black ring en- 

 circles the neck ; top of head dark brown; back and wings beauti- 

 ful metallic green with a rich purple tinge ; primaries barred, and 

 the secondaries tipped with white, thus forming a band across 

 the wing; flanks and tail-coverts veriniculated with grey lines, 

 like a Wigeon's back ; tail greenish brown ; vent black. 



The female is of the same size as the male, but not nearly so 

 boldly marked; its irides are dark brown; bill yellowish black; 

 the secondaries only are marked with white ; face and neck grey ; 

 breast barred with narrow black lines ; underparts dirty white ; top 

 of head dull brown, with a purple gloss. 



I dissected both these birds : their stomachs were exceedingly 

 muscular, contained weed and vegetable matter, also a quantity 

 of sand and particles of quartz. 



Sterna berqii (Licht.). 



I shot several of these Terns in the Straits of Johor and off 

 the south coast of Singapore. During September, while steaming 

 to Pulau Mongsa, several flocks passed close to our launch. 

 They flew close to the surface of the sea and in extended order, 

 like a line of skirmishers ; all the flocks were making in the same 

 direction ; and it was about three in the afternoon : so perhaps 

 they were on their way to some place in which to pass the night. 



One shot near Johor on 13th April was from 17 to 18 inches 

 in length, bill at front 21, tarsus 1 T V ; irides dark brown ; bill 

 pale yellowish-green ; legs black ; upper parts mottled all over 

 with French grey and dusky brown ; head and nape black, the 

 feathers of the crown edged with white ; forehead, underparts, 

 inner portions of the inner webs of the primaries, and tail-feathers 

 white. 



I think this must have been an immature bird ; others I shot 



