270 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
16. Diving-petrel Pelecanoides urinatrix Gmelin 
PeV-e-can-oid'-es — Gk, pelican, pelican; -aides, from Gk, eidos, form *=» 
like: u-rl-na -trix , L., urinatrix , diver (feminine form). 
Distribution . — Southern oceans, between latitudes 35° S. and 55° S., 
ranging from the islands of Bass Strait, and the coasts of Victoria, Tas- 
mania, and New Zealand, to the coast of South America. 
Notes. — Also called Smaller Diving-petrel and Common Diving-petrel. 
Usually seen singly or in small scattered flocks, resting on the surface of 
the water, or diving for its food, which consists of small fishes, crustaceans, 
and other marine organisms. Breeds in colonies on islands of Bass Strait, 
on the coast of New Zealand, and on the Chatham, Bounty, Antipodes, 
Snares, and Auckland Islands, Tristan da Cunha, and Gough and Falk- 
land Islands. 
Nest. — In a cavity at the end of a crooked burrow. 
Egg* — White. Breeding-season: July to November. 
17. Caspian Tern Hydroproyne caspia Pallas 
Hy-dro-prog-ne — water-swallow, from Gk, hydor , water; and Progne or 
Procne, a daughter of Pandion, King of Athens, changed by the gods into 
a swallow (mythology) : caspia — of the Caspian Sea. 
Distribution. — Australia and Tasmania; also occurs in North 
America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand. 
Notes . — Usually in pairs, occasionally in small flocks, frequenting 
chiefly the coasts and adjacent islands. It is easily distinguished by its 
large size, large, stout, red bill, and black forehead and crown. Like the 
other species of Terns it feeds almost entirely on small fishes, which it 
obtains when they are near the surface by plunging down from the air. 
In Australia this species does not breed in colonies, as do most other 
Terns, but generally in isolated pairs. Breeds usually on islands, and 
occasionally on headlands along the coast. It is one of the few Terns that 
range to inland lakes. 
Nest. — A depression in the sand. 
Eggs. — Two, sometimes three, dull yellowish-stone or greenish-grey, 
covered with irregular-shaped freckles, spots, and blotches of umber and 
blackish-brown, with a few underlying markings of dull grey or inky-grey. 
On some eggs the markings are larger and more numerous at the larger 
end, and on others the underlying markings are plentifully distributed over 
the whole surface. Breeding-season: October to February (southern 
Australia and Tasmania) ; March, May, August, September, and Novem- 
ber (north-western Australia). 
18. White-fronted Tern Sterna striata Gmelin 
Stern -a — N.L., sterna, gull: stri-a-ta — L., striatus, striped. 
Distribution. — The eastern coast of Australia, and Tasmania; also 
occurs in the Molucca Islands, New Zealand, and Auckland, Campbell, 
Chatham, Fiji, and Tonga Islands. 
