AUSTRALIAN ROSEATE TERN. 
The Australian and New Caledonian birds I at present class as 
Sterna dougallii gracilis Gould ; West and North Australia (breeding) ; 
New Caledonia (breeding) 
but later the Eastern form may be separated, and Masters’s S, nigrifrons 
made use of. 
Though, with a conservatism probably to be regretted, I have classed 
these birds under Sterna, I am not satisfied that this is the correct course, 
but under the present circumstances I cannot do otherwise. A monographic 
study by an up-to-date ornithologist would probably see this bird placed under 
Thalassoea Kaup, which genus was provided for it alone. With it would 
probably be accepted Sterna striata, which appears to be strictly congeneric, 
and also Sterna sumatrana kempi, though the last named is somewhat 
aberrant, and on account of its proportionately much stronger feet, might be 
given subgeneric rank under the name GYGISTERNA (nov.), the monotypic 
type being the above-mentioned Sterna sumatrana hempi Mathews. Many 
authors may consider Thalassoea to be invalid on account of the prior Thalasseus, 
and of course these may make use of Gygisterna for this group. 
VOL. ri. 
365 
