424 
BIRDS OF BRITISH BURMAH. 
762. STERNA MELANOGASTRA. 
THE BLACK-BELLIED TERN. 
Sterna melanogaster, Tetnm. PI Col. 434. Sterna javanica, Horsf. Zool. Res, 
in Java, Gen. Cot. ; Jerd. B. Lid. ii. p. 840 ; Hume, Nests and Eggs, p. 662 ; 
Oates, S. F. v. p. 169 ; Wardlaw Ramsay, Ibis, 1877, p. 472 : Anders. Yunnan 
JExped. p. 694. Sternula jerdoni, Beavan, Ibis, 1868, p. 403 ; Hume, S. F. iii. 
p. 348, note. Sterna melanogastra, Salvad. Ucc. Born. p. 377 ; Bl. ^ Wald. 
B. Burm. p. 163 ; Saimders, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 645 ; Hume Sr Bav. S. F. vi. p. 492 ; 
Hume, S. F \u'i. p. 116; Zegge, Birds Ceijlon, p. 1006; Oates, S. F. x. p. 247. 
Pelodes javanica, Hime, S. F. iii. p. 193. 
Description. — Summer plumage. Forehead^ crown and nape black ; lores_, 
sides of the head,, chin and throat white^, shading oflP into pale grey on the 
breast; abdomen^ vent and sides of the body smoky black) thighs and 
sides of the body white ; the whole upper plumage, wings and tail grey^ 
the primaries brown at the tips and the shafts white. 
In winter the black portions of the head become white streaked with 
blackish^ and the black on the lower plumage disappears, being replaced 
by pale grey. 
Bill orange-yellow^ turning to yellow at the tip; iris blackish brown; 
legs and feet orange-red ; claws blacky that of the hind toe pale yellow. 
Length 13*5 inches^ tail 6'8/wing 9 3, tarsus '55^ bill from gape 1'8, 
fork of the tail 4. 
The Black-bellied Tern is abundant throughout the Province and is a 
constant resident. 
It occurs throughout India up to Scinde on the north-west and in 
Ceylon. It is spread throughout the Indo-Burmese countries, and is re- 
corded from Cochin China by Dr. Tiraud^ who states that it is common in 
that country. Count Salvadori enters it with doubt as an inhabitant of 
Borneo ; but there is reason now to think that it is not found in that 
island nor in any part of the Malay archipelago. 
It was most probably to a specimen of this Tern in immature plumage 
that Lord Walden referred^ species 638^ in Mr. BlytVs Catalogue, p. 163. 
On asking Capt. Wardlaw Ramsay to allow me to see this specimen_, he 
replied that it could not be founds and Mr. Howard Saunders has no 
recollection of having seen it. He kindly informs me that there was no 
specimen of a Tern in Capt. Wardlaw Ramsay^s collections from Burmah 
about which any question could arise^ and consequently he made no note 
of this particular specimen^ which he has no doubt was submitted to him 
for examination together with other Terns. 
This Tern frequents inland waters^ ponds^ marshes and rivers^ and is 
