THE ROSEATE TEUN. 
425 
very abundant in most parts of the country^ but perhaps not so general as 
the last. It breeds in- March and April^ laying three eggs on the bare 
sand on banks in large rivers. The eggs are very similar to those of the 
preceding_, but smaller. 
763. ^STERNA DOUGALLI. 
THE ROSEATE TERN. 
Sterna dougallii, Mont. Orn. Diet. Suppl. ; Saunders., P. Z. S. 1876, p. 652 ; Dresser, 
Bii'ds Eur. viii. p. 273, pi. ; Legge, S. F. iii. p. 376, iv. p. 246 ; Hume ^ Dav. 
S. F. vi. p. 492'; Hume, S. F. viii. p. 116; Parker, S. F.ix. p. 489; Legge, Birds 
Ceylon, p. 1033 ; Hume, S. F. x. p. 246, note. Sterna paradisea, Keys. 8f Bias. 
Wirh. Eur. p. 247; Hume, S, F. ii. p. 501 (nec Briln.). Sterna gracilis, 
Goidd, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 222 ; id. Birds Austr. vii. pi. 27 ; Hume, S. F. ii. p. 317 ; 
Legge, S. F. iii. p. 376. Sternula korustes, Hume, 8. F. ii. p. 318. 
Description. — Summer plumage. Crown and nape deep glossy black; 
back and upper surface of the wings delicate light French grey ; rump 
and upper tail-coverts white^ washed with grey ; rest of the plumage pure 
whitCj except that the under surface of the body is tinged with delicate 
light rose-colour ; first primary with the outer web black_, the rest having 
this part hoary grey ; inner webs of the primaries dark grey_, broadly 
margined to the tip of the feather with white; bill red at the base^ other- 
wise black ; iris dark brown ; legs reddish orange. 
Winter plumage. Forehead and cheeks white ; crown and nape brownish 
blacky slightly marked with white ; lesser wing-coverts along the edge 
brownish ; tail much shorter than in summer and the underparts without 
any trace of rose-colour; otiierwise coloured as in summer plumage. 
(Dresser.) 
Legs and feet bright vermilion-red; claws black; irides deep brown; 
bill black ; gape and base of lower mandible varied from reddish fleshy to 
vermilion-red. [Davison.) 
Length up to 15 inches,, tail up to 7*5^ wing 8-7, tarsus '8, bill from 
gape 2y fork of tail about 4. 
The Roseate Tern was observed by Mr. Davison in Tenasserim off the 
mouth of the Laynah Creek ; and Mr. Hume states that he has received 
several specimens from the Bassein estuary. 
It has a wide rangC; being found in Europe, Africa and America. It has 
been met with in various parts of India, Ceylon and the Andaman Islands, 
and it extends down to Australia. 
