356 
STERNIDffi. 
Eggs of a buffy-white or whitey-brown sparingly marked with 
light umber, the remainder of the surface being boldly splashed 
and spotted with purplish-red and purplish-grey, some with 
obsolete patches of a lighter tint appearing as if beneath the 
surface of the shell. Length 2 inches by l -42 inch. Taken by 
Mr. Bennett in November 1872. Other specimens examined 
are similar in their markings but vary very much in size. Length 
(A) 2x1-5 inches; (B) P85 x H inch. 
Hah. Rockingham Bay, Wide Bay District, Richmond and 
Clarence Rivers Districts, New South Wales, Interior. ( Ramsay .) 
• 
STERNA MELANAUCHEN, Temminck. 
Black-naped Tern. 
Gould, Handbk. Bds. Aust., Vol. ii., sp. 606, p. 400. 
This bird inhabits the northern coast of Australia, and the 
islands of Torres Straits, it has also been obtained on the New 
South Wales coast, and Islands of the South Pacific. It deposits 
its eggs two in number in a slight depression in the sand, they 
are of a pale creamy-white, blotched and spotted, chiefly towards 
the larger end with dark umber and bluish-grey markings, the 
latter colour predominating and appearing as if beneath tho surface 
of the shell. Length (A) 1-53 x 113 inch ; (B) P4 x 1-07 inch. 
Specimens taken by Mr. J. A. Boyd on the 18th of Juno 1882, 
are similar in colour and measure as follows: — length (A) 1-6 x 
1-15 inch; (B) 1-58 x 1*15 inch. 
Hal. Port Darwin and Port Essington, Cape York, New South 
Wales, South Coast New Guinea. {Ramsay.) 
STERNA ANvESTIIETA, Scop. 
(Onychoprion panayensis, Gmelin.) 
Panayan Tern. 
Gould, Handbk. Bds. Aust., Vol. ii., sp. 612, p. 411. 
This species ranges over the greater portion of the Australian 
coast and the islands of Torres Straits, depositing its single egg 
