Oeder GAVIuE.] 
[Fam. STEllNIDAE. 
STEENA NEEEIS. 
(LITTLE WHITE TERN.) 
Sternula nereis, Gould, P. Z. S. 1842, p. 140. 
Sterna parva, Ellman, Zool. 1861, p. 7473. 
Sterna nereis, Pelz. Verb, zool.-bot. Gesellscb. Wien, xvii. p. 818 (1867). 
Sterna minuta, Finscb, J. f. O. 1867, pp. 337, 347. 
Native name. — Tara-iti. 
Ad. ptil. (Bstiv. supra dilute cinereus, tectricibus alarum dorso coneoloribiis : remigibus intus albis, extus cauo 
lavatis, primariis duobus externis extus nigricantibus, scapis albis, pennis minoribus versus apicem albis, 
secundariis intimis dorso concoloribus, dorso postico et uropygio cum supracaudalibus albis : cauda alba ; 
pileo postico et nucha cum regione oculari et supraparotica nigris : fronte lata, genis et facie laterali et 
corpore siibtbs toto albis : rostro Isete flavido : pedibus flavis, unguibus nigricantibus : iride nigra. 
Ad. ptil. hiem. similis ptilosi sestivcC, scd pileo summo albo nigro vario ; nucha nigrtl. 
Juv. fronte et pileo cinerascenti- albis fuscescente variis : line& crescente ab oculo postico circk nucham producta 
nigra : suprk dilute cinereus, plumis versus apicem fascik irregulari brunnek transnotatis : rostro flavicanti- 
brunneo ; pedibus sordide flavis. 
Adult in summer. Forehead and along the base of upper mandible white ; spot in front of each eye, crown of the 
head, and nape black ; throat, fore neck, and all the under surface silvery white ; hind neck, shoulders, 
back, and upper surface of wings delicate silvery grey, darker on the primaries ; rump and tail, with the 
upper and lower coverts, pure white. Irides black ; bill bright yellow ; tarsi and toes yellow, the claws 
darker. Length 9 inches ; wing, from flexure, 7'5 ; tail 3 (median feathers 1 inch shorter) ; bill, along the 
ridge 1’25, along the edge of lower mandible 1‘35 ; tarsus '6 ; middle toe and claw "7. 
Adult in winter. Differs in having the crown of the head white, mixed with black, darkening outwards, the 
nuchal collar being entirely black. 
Obs. In some examples the first primary is margined on the outer web with black ; in others it is of a uniform 
dark grey. 
Young, Forehead and crown greyish w'hite, mottled with dusky ; from the eyes a crescent of greyish black, 
which encircles the occiput ; the plumage of the upper parts silvery grey, mixed with white, and many of 
the feathers with an irregular wavy mark of dark brown near the tip ; the smaller wing-coverts greyish 
brown; underparts white, as in the adult. Bill yellowish brown; feet dull yellow. The tail is less 
acuminate at the sides than in the fully adult bird. 
This is the smallest of our Terns, and is the southern representative of the Sterna minuta of Europe. 
It is tolerably common on all our coasts, and occurs also very plentifully along the shores of Western 
Australia. 
It is very active in its movements, flies high, turns in the air with facility, and dips into the 
water after its prey in a very adroit manner. When resting on the sands it appears, owing to the 
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