EASTERN WHITE-FACED TERNLET. 
was shot as she was going to the nest and I picked up the fish she had 
dropped. Breeding season extends from the latter end of October (probably) 
to February, during which time two broods are reared.” 
Mr. E. J. Christian reports that Mr. J. M. Thomson found this species 
nesting on Mud Island, eight or ten nests being discovered containing either 
eggs in the last stages of incubation, or fluffy young ones. 
The bird described was collected on Mud Island off Victoria, on the 15th 
of December, 1907, by Mr. Frank Howe, who gave me the specimen. 
This delightful little species is so distinct, and has such a restricted range, 
that there are no synonymical troubles. 
The species occurs only on the south-west, southern and south-east coasts 
of Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia, and is easily separable into 
four subspecies which may be characterised thus : — 
Sternula nereis nereis Gould ; East Australia. 
Sternula nereis liorni Mathews ; West Australia. 
About the same size, but generally lighter above. 
Sternula nereis exsul, subsp. n. ; New Caledonia. 
This form is noticeably smaller in all its measurements : — 
Males Culmen (exp.) 30.5-32 . . Wing 171 . . Tarsus 16.5-17. 
Females „ „ 29-30.5 . . „ 169-171 . . „ 16.5-17. 
Typical Males „ ,, 32.5-35 .. „ 182-185 .. „ 17-18. 
„ Females „ „ 32.5-33 . . „ 182-184 . . „ 17-18. 
From this it would appear that the females may have a shorter bill, but 
otherwise the measurements are the same as those of the male. 
Sternula nereis, subsp. ; New Zealand. 
This will be fully dealt with in another place. 
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