382 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



Mr. Peale thus alludes to the present bird : 



" Our specimen was killed at the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, in 

 the month of March. The species was then congregated in large 

 flocks, and, on one occasion, six specimens were killed at one dis- 

 charge of a fowling-piece. 



" Total length fourteen and a half inches ; wing, from carpal joint, 

 eleven inches ; tail six inches ; centre feathers (of the tail), two and 

 six-tenths of an inch." 



Tills handsome species is very accurately figured in the Zoology of 

 the Voyage of the Erebus and Terror, above cited. Specimens in the 

 collection of the Expedition are in good plumage and preservation. 

 This, and other species of tSterna, are mentioned by Dr. Pickering as 

 of common occurrence at the locality above given. 



Latham's plate, above cited, evidently represents a young bird; and, 

 as the locality in the description accompanying it (Gen. Sj-n. Ill, p. 

 358), is given as New Zealand, and as both, moreover, might readily 

 apply to the young of the present species, it is not improbable that 

 Gmelin's name should be adopted. We leave it, however, as a pro- 

 blem to be solved by the examination of the young bird, and com- 

 parison with the figure and description to which we allude. Gmelin 

 named this species on the faith of Latham's description, very probably 

 never having seen a specimen. 



Mr. Peale's measurements, above given, appear to have been made 

 from the recently killed bird. The preserved skin measures, in total 

 length, about thirteen inches. 



2. Sterna lunata, Peale. 



Sterna lunata, Peale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 277 (1848). 



S. panayam refert sed major et pallidior. Corpore supra pallide cinei'eo, 

 siibtus alho, f route albo, capite supra et linea an te oculos nigra. Long, 

 tot. 15 pollices. 



Form. — General form of, but rather larger than, Sterna panaya, Gm. 

 (Gould, B. of Aust. VII, PI. XXXIII). Bill straight, rather wide at 

 base, and thick ; wings long, first quill longest ; tail deeply forked, 

 with the feathers pointed ; outer feathers about two inches longest ; 



