THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
The bird figured and described was collected on Houtman’s Abrolhos, 
November 16 th, 1898. 
There seems to be no doubt that this bird was first clearly described by 
Montagu {Suppl. Ornith. Diet., 1813 — no pagination) from specimens obtained 
by Dr. McDougall on the Cumbrey Islands, Firth of Clyde, Scotland. I 
append Montagu’s detailed description herewith : — 
Sterna dougallii. 
Length fifteen inches and a half ; the bill one inch five eighths long to the 
feathers on the forehead, slender, slightly curved, and of a jet black colour, except 
at the base, which is of a bright orange, extending about the eighth of an inch in 
breadth on the upper mandible from the comer of the mouth, round the front and round 
the nostrils ; and on the under mandible, extending from the angle of the mouth along 
the sides as far as the feathers on the chin, and rather beyond on the under part ; the 
inside of the mouth and throat bright orange, becoming darker towards the end of the bill ; 
hides black ; the tongue one half the length of the bill, of a pale red colour and bifurcated 
at the point ; the forehead, crown, hiud part, and sides of the head, taking in the eyes, 
except a small portion of the lower part of the orbit, jet black ; the black feathers on the 
hind head thinly diffused, and flowing over the white down the back of the neck ; the 
feathers on the sides of the head, extending in a narrow line along the upper mandible 
to the nostrils, and on the sides of the neck white ; the whole under parts are white, but 
the fore-part of the neck, breast, and belly to beyond the vent, are tinged with a most 
delicate rosy blush, the back scapulars, and coverts of the wings, pale cinereous -grey ; 
the quiU feathers are narrow, the first has the exterior web black, with a hoary tinge ; the 
others are hoary on that part ; and part of the inner web next to the shaft of the first three 
or four is hoary black, becoming by degrees paler in the succeeding feathers, all deeply 
margined with white quite to the tip, and the shafts of all are white ; length of the wing 
from the elbow to the extremity of the first quill feathers nine inches and a quarter ; the 
tail is greatly forked, the outer feather is seven inches long, extending two inches beyond 
the wings when closed, extremely slender, and the end for an inch or more slightly ciliated ; 
the middle feathers are scarcely three inches in length, they are all white, destitute of any 
markings ; the legs and feet, including the bare space above the knee, which is nearly 
half an inch, are of the brightest orange colour ; the claws black and hooked. 
Cumbrey Islands, Firth of Clyde, Scotland. 
At one time it was considered that Brunnich’s prior description of Sterna 
paradisea was applicable to this bird, but it is now generally conceded that 
Brunnich’s name was given to the Arctic Tern, commonly known under 
Naumann’s name of Sterna macroura ; therefore, this present species must 
be known under Montagu’s name. 
Gould separated the Australian bird as Sterna gracilis {Proc. Zool. Soc. 
(Lond.) 1845, p. 76) as follows : — 
St. summo capiteet nucha posteriore saturate nigris ; lateribus nuchae et parte inferiore 
seriaceo-albis, pectore et abdomine leviter rosaceis ; rostro carnicolore, apice brunneo- 
nigro ; pedibus aureofusis. 
Crown of the head, nape and back of the neck deep black ; sides of the neck and all 
the under surface silky white, with a blush of rosy red on the breast and abdomen ; back, 
wings and tail light grey, becoming darker on the primaries; irides brownish-red; bill 
flesh colour except at the tip, where it is washed with blackish-brown ; feet orange-red. 
Total length, 13 inches ; bill 2| ; wing 8^ ; tail 6| ; tarsi |. 
Hab. The Houtman’s Abrolhos, off the western coast of Australia. 
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