Oedek GAVU3.] 
[Yam. STEENID^. 
STEENA ANTARCTICA. 
(BLACK-FRONTED TERN.) 
Sterna antarctica, Wagler, Isis, 1832, p. 1223. 
Hydrochelidon alhostriata. Gray, Voy. Ereb. aud Terr., Birds, p. 19, pi. 21 (1844). 
Stei'nula antarctica, Bonap. C. R. xlii. p. 773 (1856). 
Hydrochelidon albistriata, Bonap. C. R. xlii. p. 773 (1856). 
Sterna cinerea, Ellman, Zool. 1861, p. 7473. 
Hydrochelidon hyhrida, Finsch, J. f. O. 1867, p. 347. 
Native name. — Tara. 
Ad. astiv. supra saturate cinereus, uropygio conspicufe albo : capite summo nuchaque nigris : line^ facial! a rostri 
basi directe per regioncm paroticam ducta, albd : genis et corpore subtus toto pulcbre cinereis, subcaudalibus 
albis : remigibus extus cinerascentibus, iutus albis, scapis albis, primario prime extus nigricante : cauda 
dilutb cinere^j rectricibus versus basin albis, rectrice extimS, fere omnino albfl, versus apicem cinerascente : 
rostro Isetb flavo : pedibus Isete flavis, unguibus saturate brunneis : iride nigra. 
Ad. hiem. similis ptilosi Eestivse, sed fronte et pileo cinerascenti-albis, nigro variis. 
Juv. pileo summo et lateral! saturate cinerascentibus : lined a basi rostri per oculum ducta et ad torquem nuchalem 
angustam conjuncta nigricante, albo varid : tectricibus alarum, scapularibus et secundariis intimis brunneo 
subterminaliter notatis : rostro nigro, versus apicem brunnescente : pedibus sordide flavis. 
Adult in summer. Top and sides of the bead and nape velvety black j from the gape a broad streak of white 
passes under the eyes, and is continued to the nape, forming a border to the black plumage ; upper and 
lower tail-coverts pure white ; the rest of the body beautiful pearl-grey, darker on the upper surface ; wing- 
feathers darker grey, with white shafts, the first primary margined on the outer web with dusky black ; 
tail-feathers dark pearl-grey, the outermost ones inclining to white, and all of them white on their under 
surface. Irides black ; bill bright yellow, sometimes shaded with brown towards the base of the upper 
mandible ; legs and feet bright yellow, the claws dark brown. Total length 12 inches ; wing, from fiexure, 
10-25; tail 4-5 (middle feather 1-75 inch shorter); bill, along the ridge I'l, along the edge of lower 
mandible 1'5 ; tarsus '6; middle toe and claw 1 ; hind toe and claw -2. 
Adult in winter. Differs only in having the forehead and crown greyish white, mottled with black. 
Young. Top and sides of the head dark ash-grey ; the lores, a mark beyond the eyes (sometimes the vertex), 
and a narrow nuchal collar obscurely mottled with black; throat whitish; upper wing-coverts, scapulars, 
and long inner secondaries with a subterminal mark of brown, and with paler tips ; the rest of the plumage 
as in the adult. Bill black, inclining to light brown towards the base ; legs and feet dull yellow. 
Younger state. Crown and nape greyish brown mottled with black ; a small spot of black in front of the eyes, 
and a larger one behind covering the ears and spreading outwards ; plumage of the upper parts much darker 
than in the adult ; upper wing-coverts, scapulars, and inner secondaries blackish brown, darker towards the 
end and terminally margined with dull ochreous yellow ; tail-feathers blackish brown in their apical portion 
and narrowly tipped with white ; underparts clouded with grey ; throat, part of fore neck, and under tail- 
coverts pure white. Bill brown, changing to yellow towards the base of lower mandible. 
