42 
Son/c I'unjab River Birds. 
and at Ihe buck o'i my niiiid waw a lurking thought of croco- 
dileis, although the few that arc to be found in that portion of 
the river are only of the fish -eating variety. 
The expedition was not a success, since the birds rose 
as soon as the lant ein gleams fell on them, leaving only a 
vague memory of wnite wings; so none were identified, and 
we had to essay again the passage perilous with empty hands. 
However, next day 1 returned alone and by dint of 
careful watching identified several clutches of eggs, with the 
result of ascertaining that as a rule the eggs of Skimmers 
and Terns can be separated without the presence of the parents. 
1 also noticed a difference in the demeanour of the two species 
at their nested for the skimmer is much the less shy at return- 
ing to its eggs, and it also feigns to bb \vounded, a proceeding 
that I have never seen on the part of rhe Tern. 
The Indian River Tern {Sterna neena, Sykes), is a com- 
mon resident on these rivers, but although the species is 
present all the year round, it is probable that individuals 
move about a good deal. Odd birds visit every little i)ond 
and even Hooded fields miles away from any river, but in 
this resi>ect it is inferior to titerna melanogaster. 
The plumage is thus described in Fauna of British 
India, Birds, Vol. IV ., p. 315 : — 
Th.!j wiiole head to con.siderablj' below the eyes and including the 
napo black glossed with da/k green, a white spot unJer i ach rye rest 
of upper parts Piench grey, paling to pearl grey on the rump and tail ; 
chin and a streak on each cheek bordering the black cap, togethei with 
the under tail coverts, white ; remainder of lower surface, inclusive of 
wing lining, dilicate pale grey. 
After the moult, which does not occur until about Dtceinber, the 
forehead id v.hitc and the crown dull grey, then black streaks appear 
and the black cap is generally assume 1 by J-'cbruary. Young birds have 
the feathers of the upper parts dull grey, with an inner brown and an 
outer bufi margin. 
Bill bright deep yellow; iridca brown; hgs red. 
Length 15 to 18 ins.; wi/ig 11 ins.; bill from gape 2.S ins. 
I have come across the nestling but unfortunately 
omitted to take a description of it. 
The nest is a hollow in the sand scooped out by the 
parent birds, and often well -banked up round the sides. I 
have not found any attempt at using materials, except that 
one nest had bits of straw in the sides, and another small 
