XL! 



GENUS HYDROCHELIDON (Boic). 



DIFFERING from the other Terns in choosing as their habitats the swamps, marshes and lagoons of the 

 interior, about the sedgy herbage of which they build their nests, the members of this genus range 

 over a great portion of the Australian continent. 



HYDROCHELIDON LEUCOPAREIA. 



MARSH TERN. Genus : Hydrochblidon. 



THIS is one of the smallest of the Terns, and is distinguished by the delicacy and beauty of its 

 plumage and by its powerful flight, which is rendered the more conspicuous by the bird's 

 extreme lightness. 



The reaches of some of the rivers and the solitude of the reedy lagoons of the interior of the 

 Australian continent are frequented and enlivened by numbers of these birds, particularly during the 

 breeding season, when they may be seen flying in small flocks over the surface of the water and skimming 

 the edges of the marshes or lagoons. 



Although the food of this species consists chiefly of very small fish, it has been observed to 

 seize flying insects while on the wing, by swooping close to the ground and again ascending to a 

 considerable height, the plunges being performed with great velocity : this insect hunting is usually 

 undertaken by the birds in pairs. 



This Tern, although not a swift swimmer, is an exceedingly buoyant one, and when shot at and 

 wounded will not dive as others of the Terns do, but will inflict severe bites with its sharp bill when 

 taken in the hand, though without uttering cries. In this respect, and in the affectionate concern 

 manifested by the male towards the female bird when the latter is wounded, the species greatly resembles 

 the American Marsh Tern described by Audubon. That great ornithologist relates that on the various 

 occasions when he shot male birds the female would merely take a circle as she rose above the reach of 

 shot, and then move off to some considerable distance : but when the female dropped, if on the water, 

 the male would plunge headlong towards her, and, alighting by her side, would do all in his power to 

 aid her in swimming or flying off. 



During nidification the birds appear to attach themselves to a particular locality among the 

 lagoons and marshes which they frequent, usually selecting a spot where the sedgy herbage is very long 

 and conceals their eggs from the prying eyes of Hawks. As soon as the young bird has gained sufficient 

 strength on the wing the birds again disperse to the various feeding grounds. 



As regards plumage, the male and female bird are much alike, but the latter can always be known 

 by her comparative smallriess to the male. 



Forehead, crown and nape, deep black ; all the upper surface, wings and tail, a rich grey ; sides of the 

 face and throat, white, deepening into grey towards the chest ; bill, a brilliant red ; feet, red. 



Total length; 9f inches ; bill, 1| inch ; wing, 8f inches ; tail, 8^ inches ; tarsi, £ inch. 



