1004 
STERNA SEENA. 
Obs. There seems to be little variation in the size of this Tern. Mr. Cripps furnishes the following data concerning 
a male shot in Eurreedpore: — “Length 14'75 inches; expanse 31 '0 ; wing 10‘75 ; tail from vent 4'66 ; tarsus 
0 - 83 ; bill from gape 2-46, at front 1-62 : weight 5*25 oz. Irides dark brown ; bill bright yellow ; legs vermilion ; 
mouth inside yellow.” The peculiarly coloured legs will always serve to identify this species at once. 
Distribution. — This River-Tern is said by Layard to be common in Ceylon. It may be, perhaps, a 
straggler to the island; but the statement that it is common is most certainly erroneous, and it is quite evident 
from Layard’s words that he has been mistaken in his identification of the species. He says (/. c.) : — “ Th. ben- 
galensis and S. aurantia pass in vast flights westward along the coral reefs on the north of Ceylon during the 
months of May and June.” The latter is entirely a River-Tern, never frequenting the open coast; and the 
former, with which our bird is coupled, is a Sea-Tern, exclusively confined to the coast, and associating only 
with its larger relative, the Crested Sea-Tern, and another large species, the Gull-billed Tern. I was ever on 
the look-out for this species ; and though I shot very many unfortunate examples of the bird called by Layard 
Thalasseus bengalensis (which is about the same size, and has a yellow-looking bill when on the wing), in the 
hopes of procuring a River-Tern, I did not succeed in getting one the whole time I was on the island, nor 
did I meet with any one who had ever shot it. As Layard informs me that all his birds were identified by 
Blyth, it follows, in all probability, that he procured it, and I therefore do not relegate it to the category of 
those species which have only been seen and not satisfactorily identified. It may occur as a straggler ; but 
there are no favourable situations for it in the island, as it chiefly affects large rivers with sandy banks, and is 
a stationary species. 
In India it is common on most of the large streams, and is also found about large tanks, whither it 
strays from its more accustomed haunts, the rivers of the peninsula. I am not aware that it is very common 
in Southern India; but the Rev. Dr. Fairbank records it from the rivers in the Deccan, and it is plentiful on 
the Mahanadi, Godaveri, and Koel rivers ; and the other districts from which Air. Ball notes it are the 
Rajmehal hills, Bardwan, Lohardugga, Orissa, Raipur, and Sambalpur. Its home, par excellence, is the 
Ganges and its many sandy-bedded affluents ; and.it follows the Hooghly down to its mouth. On the rivers of 
Eurreedpore it is common and resident, breeding on the Brahmapootra ; but in the streams of Cachar, further 
east, it is rare. In Lower Pegu it is abundant, frequenting the whole course of the Irrawaddy throughout 
the year. It is found on the Sittang, Salween, and other streams as far south as Afoulmein, beyond which, 
in Tenasserim, it does not seem to have been observed. Turning westward, we find Mr. Hume recording it 
as fairly abundant in Sindh on the Jhelum, Clienab, and Indus, right down to the sea, being even noticed in 
Kurrachee harbour, but it was not seen outside at sea ; in all the large “ broads ” of the province of Sindh it 
abounds, says this author. 
Habits. — As has been already noticed, this fine Tern is a dweller on rivers, and is said to hunt singly or 
in pairs, or in very small parties, following the course of the sacred Ganges and other mighty kindred streams, 
resting on their glistening sand banks when fatigued with its labours, and rearing its young in these glaring 
spots beneath the rays of a tropical sun. Its companion seems to be the remarkable Indian Skimmer 
[Rhynchops albicollis) , which has never yet favoured Ceylon with its presence, but which spends its existence 
on the broad rivers of the mainland. After the manner of the inland group of Marsh-Terns, the present 
species, however, frequents also jheels and tanks, and must, in these spots, find an abundance of similar food 
to that partaken of by the latter-mentioned birds. Its flight is swift and well sustained, and its note is a 
shrill cry. 
Nidification. — As early as the middle of March this species begins to lay on the J umna and other rivers 
in the north of India; but on the Indus they do not, says Mr. Ilume, lay until the second week in April. 
They nidificate on the churs or sand banks, and make no nest further than a small depression in the sand ; and 
it would appear that occasionally they lay their eggs indiscriminately with those of other species, as Mr. Brooks 
informed Jerdon of such an instance having occurred on a sand bank in the Ganges. The nests are usually 
pretty close together, and are vigorously defended by the parent birds. Respecting their boldness, Mr. Ilume 
writes : — “ The vigorous manner in which these River-Terns attack and chase away Crows, Kites, and similar 
would-be robbers from the immediate neighbourhood of their nests is very noticeable. To me they seemed to 
