THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 
941 
302. Lesser Crested Tern. Sterna media. 
Sterna media hengalensis. Less. (Traiti, p. 621, 1831). 
The only record of the Lesser Crested or Allied Tern I can find is that of one 
shot at Fao in June 1900 by Mr. Ffinch ; it is in the British Museum. It must 
occur commonly off Fao one would think ; it breeds on an islet near the island 
of Arabe in great numbers (Hume’s Nests and Eggs 4, p. 299). Pitman thought 
he saw it on the floods near Baghdad but so essentially a sea tern is not in the 
least likel}' to occur inland. The White-cheeked Tern (titerna albigena auct) 
may occur off Fao ; it breeds on Allah island 40 miles east of Bushire (Hume 
1. c., p. 312) in June. 
303. Lesser Sooty Tern. Sterna ansethetus. 
Sterna ancethetus (Del. Faun, et Flor. Ins. 2, 1786, p. 92 — Phillipine 
Islands). 
This Tern breeds on Allah off Tungistan, east of Bushire in June and July 
(Hume t. c., pp. 300, 312). Its only claim to inclusion is Zarudny’s statement 
that he saw two skins which had been obtained at the mouth of the Karun 
river at Mohommera. 
304. Caspian Tern. Sterna caspia. 
Sterna, caspia, Pall. (Nov. Comm. Petrop. pt. 14, 1, 1770, p. 582 — 
Caspian Sea). 
This fine Tern is resident in Lower Mesopotamia, and breeds on Warba island 
of the Khor Abdulla whence Huskisson obtained eggs and a parent bird for Butler 
on April 3rd, 1878 (Hume's Nests and Eggs 4, p. 296). In the non-breeding season 
it is not very uncommon on the rivers up to at any rate as far as Samarra and 
doubtless visits the lakes as well ; even in the breeding season odd non-breeding 
birds may be met with. It is commoner on the Shat-el-Arab than elsewhere. 
305. Gull=billed Tern. Sterna anglica. 
Sterna anglica, Montagu (Orn. Diet. SuppL, 1813 — England). 
The Gull-billed Tern is also resident and is fairly common. I saw them at 
intervals all the way up the river to Basra on November 20th and again on March 
16th. Cumming records that it is resident and breeds on both sides of the river 
at Fao. It also breeds on Warba island abundantly in a tightly packed colony, 
but on a different part of the island to the Caspian Terns ; eggs were obtained 
by Huskisson on April 3rd, 1878 (Hume's Nests and Eggs). Pitman thinks that 
some were breeding on dry islands in the flooded area of the Euphrates marshes 
near Museyib, but eggs he obtained in the first week of June are all far smaller 
than any known eggs of this species and measure about 43 •7x31 ‘75 mm. ; as 
he did not see the birds on the nests it is very doubtful whether these eggs belong 
1.0 this species though it is quite possible they were breeding there as he saw and 
obtained specimens. 
Two skins examined : — L. Akkarkuf, 12-8-17 (C. R. P.), Basra, 21-11-17 
(C. B. T.). 
306. Great Crested Grebe. Podiceps cristatus. 
Podiceps cristatus cristatus, L. (Syst. Nat. 1758, p. 135 — Sweden). 
So far as is known the Great-crested Grebe is a winter visitant in small numbers 
to the rivers and inundations. Pitman obtained two adults in breeding dress on 
L. Akkarkuf on August 21st, so that it is within the bounds of possibility some 
may breed in our area ; all other records relate to the winter months. 
Five skins examined: — Amara, 17-12-18 (P. A. B.); S, Amara, 7-1-18 
(P. Z. C. and R. E. C.), 2 L. Akkarkuf, 21-8-17 (C. R. P.); Amara. 12-2-17 
(Bagnall). 
These seem in no way different to west European examples. 
