Order OAVIJE.] 
[Fam. STEKNID^. 
HYDEOCHELIDON LEUCOPTERA. 
(WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN.) 
Sterna fissipes, Pallas, Zoogr. Eosso-Asiat. ii. p. 338 (1811). 
Sterna leucoptera, Meisner u. Schinz, Vog. d. Schweiz, p. 264 (1815). 
Ilyclrochelidon leucoptera, Boie, Isis, 1822, p. 563. 
Viraha leucoptera, Steph. Gen. Zool. xiii. p. 170 (1825). 
llydrochelidon nigra. Gray, Gen. of B. iii. p. 660 (1846). 
Ad. ptil. mstiv. supr^ iiitide niger, dorso et scapularibus paullo fumoso lavatis : dorso postico et uropygio albis : 
caudal albix : tectricibus alarum minimis albis, medianis et majoribus pulcbre cinereis : remigibus nigris, 
primariis interioribus canis, secundariis nigris dorso concoloribus : facie laterali et corpore subtiis toto nitide 
nigris : crisso et snbcaudalibus albis : subalaribus nigris, extus albo notatis : rostro nigro ; pedibus paUide 
rubris : iride nigr4. 
Ad. ptil. Mem. supra dilute cinereus, collo postico nigricante notato : tectricibus alarum dorso concoloribus, 
quibusdam minoribus versus basin brunnescentibus : remigibus nigricantibus, scapis ocliraceis, primariorum 
pogonii interni dimidio albo, secundariis cinereo lavatis; rectricibus supra cinereis, externis albicantibus 
anguste albido limbatis : facie et collo lateralibus torquem interruptum collarem formantibus : subtus 
omninb albus : rostro nigro, versus basin rubescentc : pedibus flavidis. 
Adult in summer. Head, neck, and all the under surface shining black; the whole of the scapulars, and the back, 
smoky black ; upper wing-coverts dark grey, becoming white towards the edge of the wing ; first two primaries 
greyish black, with white shafts, and broadly marked with white on their inner webs ; the rest of the primaries 
dai’k silvery grey, smoky on their inner webs; secondaries sooty grey, the inner ones darker; rump and tail, 
with upper and lower coverts, pure white. Irides and bill black ; legs dull red. Total length 8 5 inches ; 
extent of wings 21 ; wing, from flexure, 8 ; tail 2'75 ; bill, along the ridge '9, along the edge of lower man- 
dible 1‘25 ; bare tibia '25 ; tarsus '75 ; middle toe and claw 1 ; hind toe and claw '2. 
Adult in winter. Eorehead, sides of the head, and all the under surface pure white ; occiput, ear-coverts, nape, 
and hind neck greyish black ; upper surface of hack, wings, and tail dark grey ; the smaU wing-coverts 
shaded with brown ; the primaries sooty black, with ■white shafts ; the secondaries with dark shafts, and 
tinged more or less with grey. 
I KNOW of only one instance of the occurrence of this beautiful lern in New Zealand. On the 
12th of December, 1868, Mr. D. Monro shot a pair of them on the Waihopai river-bed in the provin- 
cial district of Nelson ; and one of these is now in the Colonial Museum. Ihey were in full summer 
plumage, and were associating with a large breeding-colony of Sterna fj'O^ifalis ; but whether they 
were actually nesting themselves, Mr, Monro was not able to ascertain. He mentions, however, that 
there w'as only a single pair of this species in the flock, and that they uttered at intervals a harsh 
croaking note. 
This Tern has likewise been discovered in Australia since the publication of Mr. Gould’s ‘ Hand- 
book ’ ; and, as it is unquestionably the same form as that inhabiting the Palsearctic Kegion, the species 
enjoys a wide geographical range. 
