74 
Note. Dr. Elliott Coues^ in his “ Review of the Terns of North America ” (Proc. Phil. Acad. 1. c.), makes the 
following remarks on the synonymy of this species ; — “ The proper specific appellation of the Caspian Tern 
is not ‘ caspia, Pallas/ hut ‘ tschegrava, Lepechin/ which latter name is proposed in the same work in which 
Pallas calls the bird ‘ caspia; but has priority by several pages. As, however, the word is not only barbarous, 
hut exceedingly cacophonous, and especially as caspia has become so well established by common consent, I 
do not think it would be expedient to supersede Pallas’s name in view of the very slight priority of that 
of Lepechin.” 
The history of this fine Tern has already been so fully written that I deem it almost sufficient to 
record here that it occurs all round the New-Zealand coasts, where its habits are the same as in other 
parts of the globe. It inhabits the Palsearctic and the greater part of the Nearctic Regions, also 
the African, Indian, and Australian coasts. It is a rare summer visitant to the eastern and southern 
shores of England. 
It is usually met with in pairs ; but I have occasionally observed parties of five or more 
resting on the sands near the mouths of our tidal rivers. It subsists entirely on small fish, for 
which it plunges into the water with considerable force ; and at certain seasons it is accustomed 
to follow the shoals of sprats far up the river-courses, where it may be seen hovering lightly over the 
water in pursuit of its finny prey, and occasionally alighting to rest on a jutting stump or projecting 
point of rock. I have seen one capture a small flounder, and kill it by battering before swallowing 
it. It often makes several feints at the water before dropping into it ; but the biid never misses its 
aim, and on rising again with a fish usually takes a wide sweep on the vving Avhilst stowing it away in 
its capacious crop. I have observed that, on the wing, this species does not move its head to and fro 
in the manner of the smaller Terns, but carries it vertically, with its powerful beak pointing down- 
wards. lAhen resting on the ground the apparently disproportionate head gives the bird an ungainly 
appearance ; but this disappears the moment the wings are expanded ; and the flight, which is 
generally performed in wide circles, may be described as "Very easy and giaceful. It is less active, 
however, ou the wing than the smaller Terns. Nevertheless it appears to have the most perfect self- 
control ; for example, I observed one pursuing a direct flight up a river-course, at a high elevation, 
when it met another coming in the opposite direction at a lower level. Moved by some sudden 
impulse it abruptly and quickly wheeled right-about, dropped to the lower plane, and succeeded 
in overtaking the other bird. Meriting of it, the Earl of Pembroke says . “The Tern, if the sea be 
smooth, has a neat little way of picking up small morsels from the surface, and, if necessary, makes a very 
respectable Gannet-like splash ; never, however, as far as I have seen, immersing himself, and always 
keeping his wings in motion to get him up again. Its ordinary cry is harsh and unmusical, consisting 
of a loud rasping note, not unlike the low cry of the domestic Goose 5 at other times it utters a 
long peevish squeal or whistling cry, fairly represented by the syllables queed-queed. When resting 
on the sands it is habitually silent, but always utters its guttural cry when preparing to take wing. 
The breeding-season of this species extends from November to January. The young birds, 
however, follow their parents up to the end of March, settling down with them on the sands, 
quivering their wings as if impatient of attention, and making an incessant squealing or whining cry. 
The eggs, usually two in number, are deposited on the bare sand, a slight hollow in the surface 
meeting the requirements of a nesting-place. They are ovoido-conical in form, measuring 2 I inches 
in length by I '9 in breadth, and varying from creamy white to a delicate greenish-white tint, the 
whole surface marked with spots and blotches of dark brown, intermixed with pale splashes of purple, 
these markings being most numerous at the thicker end. It should be mentioned, however, that, as 
in the case of other Terns, the eggs ^aresent some variety both as to size and colour ; there is a speci- 
men in the Canterbury Museum (of a pale yellowish-brown tint, thickly marked and spotted with 
dark brown) which measures only 2'4 inches by I' 6 . 
