THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
The type of this species was obtained in Bass Strait, and described by 
Gould in the Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond). 1842, p. 140, whose description I 
attach : — 
Sterna nereis. Stem, vertice et nucha nigris, hoc colore oculos cingente macu- 
lamque anteriorem efficiente, ut non in frontem ducto ; fronte albo ; dorso ahsque belle 
ex argenteo-cinereis ; corpore inferiore, uropygio et cauda albis. 
Crown of the head and back of the neck black, which colour extends round the eye 
and is continued in the form of a spot before that organ ; but this colour does not extend 
on to the forehead ; which is white ; back and wings delicate silvery grey ; the outer web 
of the external primary dark grey at the base, gradually passing into grey towards the 
tip ; all the under surface, rump and tail pure white ; irides black ; bill, tongue, and 
feet rich orange yellow. 
Total length, 10| inches ; bill If ; wdng ; tail 41 ; tarsi -^-g. 
Hab. Bass Straits. 
Mr. Littler considers it a rare bird in Tasmania. 
Mr. J. W. Mellor tells me these birds are never seen in large flocks, 
although they are fairly common in South Australia. He has seen them about 
St. Vincent and Spencer Gulfs. They skim over the surface of the water 
in a most graceful manner, reminding one of large white swallows. They 
breed in the small islands of Spencer Gulf, and near Port Lincoln in South 
Australia. 
Mr. Edwin Ashby found them very common at Sandy Point, near 
Edithville, South Australia, in October, 1886 ; and at Troubridge Lighthouse 
(South Australia) in January, 1903. They nest in both places. 
Mr. F. E. Howe sends me the following : — 
“ On the 15th of December, 1907, during our visit to Mud Island, we 
found these fairy-like birds fairly numerous. I noticed them in the grey of 
early morning, hovering about the shallow waters of the beach, and throwing 
themselves into, but not under, the water, and catching small fish. One part 
of the shore was covered with shingle, shells, and seaweed, forming a ridge 
a few yards above high-water mark, and here we found them nesting. Five 
nests were found within twenty yards containing 1, 2, 1, 2, 2, eggs, all fresh. 
The nests were merely shght hollows amongst shells and pebbles, making it 
hard to distinguish the eggs. The birds (six of them) were in the air screaming 
the whole time, and now and then darting quite close to us. When we revisited 
the island on the 23rd of February, 1908, they had shifted their quarters to 
a ‘ spit ’ on the other side of the island, and here we found both eggs and young ; 
the latter in all stages from a day or two old to those flying with their parents. 
The eggs were well advanced in incubation. 
“ One about a week old managed to fly down to the beach and settled 
among stones in some water, and just had the head and back showing above 
water. The young were being fed on fragments of very small fish, as a female 
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