THE WHITE- WINGED BLACK TERN. 
421 
tail-coverts pure white ; under wing-coverts black and blackish grey_, 
the edge of the wing mottled with white; beak reddish black ; iris dark 
brown; legs and feet vermilion-red with a coral tinge. (Dresser.) 
Winter plumage. Forehead and crown white ; nape and occiput dark 
grey^ as also the back and scapulars ; the rump and upper tail-coverts pale 
greyish^ almost white ; throaty fore neck^ under tail-coverts and under 
wing white ; breast greyish ; in front of the eye a black spot. [Legge.) 
First autumn plumage. Tarsi and feet reddish brown ; bill blackish ; 
crown^ occiput and nape brown ; the white of the sides of the nape 
encroaching on the dark colour of the nape just behind the ear-, interscapu- 
lary region and scapulars earth-brown^ the feathers tipped with fulvous ; 
lower back brownish slaty ; rump white ; tail and the coverts slate-grey^ 
the former tinged with brown and tipped with white ; wing-coverts slate- 
grey tipped with fulvous and brown ; lesser coverts dark slate-grey 
edged with white ; primaries blackish grey_, the outer webs frosted ; 
beneath white, passing round the hind neck. [Legge.) 
Length 9*5 inches,, tail 3, wing 8*2, tarsus -75, bill from gape 1'25. 
This species can be separated at all ages from the preceding by its 
smaller size ; in winter plumage they are otherAvise much alike. 
I met with the White-winged Black Tern at the mouth of the Sittang 
about Kyasoo and on the Canal and adjoining creeks. It was always in 
company with the Whiskered Tern, from which it was undistinguisliable 
when on the wing. I found it quite common in the winter months and 
procured a large series. It has not yet been recorded from any other part 
of Burmah. 
It occurs in a considerable portion of Europe and Africa^ and it 
extends through Asia as far north as South Siberia, ranging down through 
the Malayan archipelago to Australia. It breeds in Central Asia and 
in parts of Europe in swamps. 
