Order LABIF0RME8 
No. 137. 
Family LARIDM. 
STERNULA ALBIFRONS TORMENTI. 
WESTERN WHITE-SHAFTED TERNLET. 
Steeka sinensis toementi Mathews, Nov, Zool., Vol. XVIII., p, 210, 1912 ; North- 
west Australia. 
Distribution. North-west Australia ; Northern Territory. 
Admit. Differing from 8. albifrons placens in its hghter coloration, larger size, and slightly 
heavier bill which is also longer — culmen 32 mm., wing 181. 
Immature. A good series from Point Torment, North-west Austraha, and Melville Island 
are worthy of detailed description, as they seem to indicate that these Ternlets 
take on the adult state as soon as they have obtained their full first-season’s 
plumage. Thus, a bird killed on February 28th has the head mostly white, as are 
also the lores, while the tail is grey and short ; the primaries are apparently full- 
grown and perfect, but they are short. Close examination reveals the fact that 
though they are unworn, new primaries are commencing from the inside to replace 
them. The bill is given as “ black, the basal half of lower mandible olive brown.” 
Another has more black feathers coming on the head, but still, though the new 
adult primaries are more advanced, the perfect immature primaries are scarcely 
worn. The bill is changing colour, “ basal half ofive brown, tip black.” The 
next stage has the lores black and white, mostly black, the top of the head shows 
the new black feathers to be in the majority ; the tail-feathers are new and white, 
the streamers half -grown ; the primaries are mostly adult, only the two outside 
immature ones left but they are very Httle worn ; the bill is now “ yellow and 
black,” as in full breeding-plumage. Casual examination of any of the preceding 
might allow that primaries were fully grown, and deductions might be drawn 
from them similar to those written by Hume, regarding the Indian forms, already 
noted. 
Nestling, Nest, Eggs and Breeding-season. Unknown. 
I SEPABATED this fom in the Nov, Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 210, 1912, but 
its habits have not yet been made known. 
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