1002 
HYDROCHELIDON LEUCOPTERA. 
nests in the delta of the Nile, and southwards along this river to Wady-Halfa. It has been obtained at 
Kordofan and on the Red Sea, and is a straggler to the Blue and White Nile. 
It has once occurred in America at Wisconsin. 
Habits . — Like the last species, this Marsh-Tern is generally met with about inland waters, about which 
it flies with a rapid, graceful, and buoyant flight, and feeds on insects, water-beetles, small fish, larvae, and 
worms. It consorts in flocks sometimes of considerable number, and associates with the Marsh-Tern, which 
it excels, however, in the swiftness of its flight. The adult mentioned above passed my boat in Koddiyar Bay 
at great speed, the black under wing-coverts and white shoulders being very noticeable. It is said to perch 
on stakes and elevated objects, like the common Marsh-Tern. Von Heuglin observes that they are courageous 
birds, and do not ordinarily display much shyness ; he found them feeding on flies, cockroaches, and other 
insects, and states that they are usually very fat. Naumann has observed them picking insects off the ears 
of grain. 
Nidification . — This species breeds in marshes, building a nest of reeds and rushes on floating vegetation, 
and lays in May and June. Its eggs are usually three in number, but sometimes four. A series which I 
have had the pleasure of examining in Mr. Saunderses collection vary considerably in ground-colour, being 
buff, brownish buff, pale buff stone-, and pale stone-colour, with a slight olivaceous tint, and are somewhat 
pointed at the small end for Tern’s eggs ; they are very boldly blotched and clouded, some at the large end 
and some on the middle of the shell, with deep sepia or black-brown, and there are numerous smaller markings 
of the same, under which are the usual light blots of grey of different shades. Examples measure — 1'34 by 
1-0, 135 by 0 - 99, T37 by 1‘01 inch. 
Genus STERNA. 
Bill varied as regards stoutness ; typically long and straight, with the gonys straight and 
lengthened ; in some stouter and slightly curved throughout. Tail much forked, the lateral 
feathers lengthened in the breeding-season. Feet generally more fully webbed than in Hydro- 
chelidon. 
Head changing to black in the summer. 
