422 
BIRDS OF BRITISH BURMAH. 
Genus STEUNA, Linn. 
760. STERNA ANGLICA. 
THE GULL-BILLED TERN. 
Sterna anglica, Mont. Om. Diet. Suppl. Sterna affinis, Horsf. Trans. Linn. Soc. 
xiii. p. 199. Gelochelidon anglicus, Jerd. B. hid. ii. p. 836 ; Scdvad. Ucc. Born. 
p. 371 ; Bl. B. Burm. p. 163 ; Hume 8,^ Dav. S. F. vi. p. 491. Sterna nilotica 
{v. Hass.), Hume, S. F. i. p. 281 ; Armstrong, 8. F. iv, p. 351. Sterna anglica, 
Saunders, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 644 ; Dresser, Birds Eur. viii. p. 295, pi, ; Hume, 
S. F. viii. p. 115 ; Begge, Birds Ceylon, p. 1011 ; Oates, S. F. x. p. 246. 
Description. — Summer plumage. Forehead^ crown^ nape and the adjoining 
part of the back of the neck black ; npper plumage, wings and tail pale 
grey ; lores_, sides of the neck and the whole lower plumage pure white. 
In winter the portion of the plumage of the head and neck which is 
black in summer turns white and is streaked with grey ; the ear-coverts 
and a space round the eye are blackish, mottled here and there with 
whitish. 
Bill, legs and feet black ; iris brown. In summer the bill and legs are 
tinged with red. 
Length about 15 inches, tail 5*5, wing 13*5, tarsus l'4,bill from gape 2, 
fork of tail about 1*7. 
The Gull-billed Tern was recorded from Arrakan by Mr. Blyth in his 
^ Catalogue ; ' and Dr. Armstrong met with it on the coast of the Irrawaddy 
Delta near Elephant Point. Mr. Hume has received it from the mouth of 
the Bassein Creek. I did not meet with it in the Sittang river or other 
apparently suitable localities. 
It occurs in Europe and North Africa, extending through Asia to China 
and ranging down to Australia. It does not appear to retire in summer 
far north, for it breeds in Southern Europe, the Punjaub and Central Asia. 
It ranges to the coasts of America. 
This species was observed by Dr. Armstrong only on the coast, where 
it hunted for its prey at the water^s edge. In India and other parts 
it appears to be a marsh -Tern, frequenting rivers and being found over 
every portion of the interior. To Burmah it is not likely to be other than 
a winter visitor. 
