PLATE 



XLTII 



STEBNA MELANOKHYNCHA (Gould). 



SOUTHERN TERN. Genus: Sterna. 



ri^HE present bird is one of the smallest of the Terns, and, as far as is known, in habits and 

 general mode of life does not differ from the other members of the family. 



This species frequents the colder latitudes of the southern hemisphere, but occasionally visits 

 the coasts of New Zealand and Tasmania, and some fine specimens were procured by Gould near 

 Maria Island, off the coast of the latter island. All these, he observed, had white foreheads, which 

 is doubtless the winter plumage, as he subsequently received from Mr. Macgillivray what he considered 

 some fully adult examples of the species in their summer dress, in which the crown of the head was 

 entirely black. In some specimens, however, the bill was red, while in others the red of the upper 

 mandible was stained with black, but in all the upper and under surfaces were a dark blue grey, and 

 the rump, tail-coverts and tail white. 



Except for its much smaller size and darker hue of plumage, there is a strong resemblance 

 between this species and one inhabiting the Falkland Islands, in the South Atlantic. 



No breeding places of this bird have yet been discovered on the Australian coast or the 

 islands adjacent thereto ; but as small flocks are occasionally seen about the Chatham Islands, and 

 the New T Zealand and Tasmanian coasts, there are probably nurseries situated in some of the islands 

 of the southern ocean, which will doubtless be revealed at some future time. 



St. Paul's and Amsterdam Islands are included in the range of habitat of this species, and 

 from the former place some eggs were procured by Macgillivray, the ground colour of which was an 

 olive brown, blotched and marked all over with rich umber ; at the larger end these markings were 

 particularly conspicuous and intermingled with faint streaks of grey. The length of the egg is 

 If inch by a breadth of l£ inch. 



When met with at sea this Tern is rather timid, does not usually approach very close to the 

 ship, and is chary of taking any food secured to a hook, unless driven to it by hunger. 



Forehead, grey ; from behind the eye, occiput and back of the neck, black ; all the under 

 surface, grey-white : the upper surface, wings and tail, a rich grey ; bill, black ; legs and feet a brilliant 

 red. 



Total length, J 3 inches ; bill, 2|- inches ; wing, 9f inches ; tail, 6^ inches ; tarsi, f inch. 



Habitat : That portion of the southern ocean lying between the south coast of Australia and 

 the Chatham Islands seems to be the most favoured range. 



