62 BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT OP GEELONG 
The breeding-places of the Bass Straits Tern are 
various islands in the Straits from which it is named, 
and thither repair about October a great many of 
these birds which have frequented the mainland bays 
during autumn and winter ; some, however, remain 
about Geelong all through the year, probably those 
which owing to immaturity will not be breeding till 
next season* In the early autumn we see on the bay 
many Terns with back and wings strongly mottled 
with brown ; these are young birds of the year, 
which have accompanied their parents on the flight 
from the breeding-islands when summer is done. 
From the fact that on November 12th, 1902, 1 counted, 
at the Eastern Baths, eleven of these birds which 
were still in immature plumage, I surmise that the 
species does not attain the adult dress till the second 
year — it was too early in the season for them to have 
been hatched that year. 
WHITE-FRONTED OR BLACK-BILLED 
TERN 
Sterna striata melanorhyncha 
This bird is smaller than the Bass Straits Tern, and 
can be readily identified by its black bill. I have 
seen one or two on Corio Bay, none on the ocean 
beaches ; they are more common on the Melbourne 
side of Port Phillip, along the beaches of the southern 
suburbs. When these Terns come north on a winter 
