THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Collection. This was obtained many years ago by Capt. Lord Byron, of 
H.M.S. ‘ Blonde ’ probably at or near the Sandwich Islands.” 
But even the recognition of this specimen did not lead to the truth, 
which was that Gray’s figure of Anous melanogmys was drawn from that bird. 
It was obvious from the first that Gray’s figure was not painted from the 
Australian A. Imcoca'pillus^'' and searching through the specimens in the 
British Museum I found the bird Saunders mentioned, and which agreed 
perfectly with the beautiful painting in the Genera Birds. This bird was 
catalogued in the List Spec. Birds Brit. Mus., in 1844, pt. in., p. 181, as 
Anous tenuirostris. 
In the first volume of the Avifauna Laysan, Rothschild figured on pi. 27 
his Anoiis hawaiiensis, and on pi. 25 gave a figure of Anous 7nelanogenys Gray 
from the Kermadec Islands, for comparison with the former bird. If these two 
figures are compared with the original of A. ^nelanogenys Gray {Genera Birds, 
Vol. III., pi. CLXXXii.), it will be at once seen which agrees best with that. 
In the third volume (p. 285, 1910), Rothschild noted, under Anous 
hawaiiensis : “ Bloxham had already collected this Tern in 1825, one of his 
two specimens being now in the British Museum.” As there is no doubt 
that Bloxham’s specimen is the bird named A. ^nelanogenys, that name must 
be used instead of A. hawaiiensis. 
Since the Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., three other species have been added as 
close allies, and I give here the diagnoses given of the new forms : — 
Micranous diamesus Heller and Snodgrass, Condor, Vol. Ill,, p. 76, 1901, Cocos and 
Chipperton Islands. 
Near Micranous hawaiiensis Rothschild of the Hawaiian Islands, but differs from this 
species in being darker on the shoulders, on the lower part and sides of the neck and on 
the sides of the head, and in having a more slender and shorter bill and shorter tarsus.* 
M. diamesus is intermediate between M. leucocapillus Gould of the Caribbean Sea, 
Atlantic and Indian Oceans and the western Pacific, and M. hawaiiensis Rothschild of 
the Hawaiian Islands in both color of the plumage and the size of the bill. 
Micranous marcusi Bryan, Occ. Papers Bernice Pauahi Bishop Mus., Vol. II,, p. 101, 
1903. Marcus I. 
Specific character. Lores deep black ; cheeks black, though less intense than the 
lores ; nape and shoulders sooty black with a very slight indication of plumbeous, averaging 
a trifle larger than M. hawaiiensis. Feet in life (old and young) orange brown, drying 
darker. 
Measurements S Wing 8,80-9.10 ... Tarsus 80 ... Culmen 1.60-1.80 
Oahu, Hawai Islands $ „ 8.35-8.70 ... „ 75-77 ... „ 1-60 
Midway Island ... cJ „ 8,80-8.90 ... ,, 75 ... ,, 1.72-1.75 
Micranous worcesteri McGregor, Philippine Journal Science, Sect. D, Vol. VI., p. 185, 1911. 
Cavalli, Sulu Sea. 
This species is undoubtedly closely related to M. leucocapillus Gould, but it differs 
in having a darker, grayer tail, and somewhat longer toes. Bill black ; tarsus and toes 
*In the Proc. Wash. Acad. Sci. ,Yol. IV., p. 509, 1902, Snodgrass and Heller correct this sentence to 
“ in having a longer and thicker bill and a longer middle toe.” 
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