402 
APPENDIX. 
HYDROCHELIDON HYBRIDA, Pallas. 
i Marsh-Tern. 
Gould, Handbk. Bds. Ansi., Vol. ii., sp. 610, p. 406. 
Mr. K. II. Bennett of Yandembah, has recently obtained a 
line and varied series of the eggs of this inland Tern, which he 
lias forwarded with the accompanying interesting notes :—“ On 
the 31st of October I discovered the breeding place of the little 
Marsh-Tern, Jlydro'chelidon hybridu, in a swamp overgrown with 
dwarf Polygouuju bushes. About a week previously when riding 
around this swamp I was led to the conclusion that these birds 
intended breeding there, as numbers were flying about above the 
water whilst many others were perched on the slender tops of 
the dwarf Polygonum bushes which projected a few inches above 
the water, and I also noticed that several of the birds flying about 
were carrying rushes in their bills. I made a careful search at 
the time, but beyond finding a few green rushes placed in a loose 
careless manner on the top of one of the Polygonum bushes, I saw 
nothing else to indicate that it was a contemplated breeding site. 
On visiting the place to day I observed numbers of the birds on 
the tops of the bushes, but not more than one on each bush, whilst 
numbers were also flying about in an excited manner and as I 
neared the edge of the swamp, kept up a continuous croaking. 
On wading in for a closer examination, I found that each bird 
was sitting on a nest (if nest such a structure could be called) each 
of which contained from one to three eggs, the latter number 
apparently being the full set. These nests were simply a few 
green rushes, in most cases quite flat, and the whole structure 
rising and falling with the motion of the water, caused by a slight 
breeze, and it was a mystery to me how the birds managed to 
leave or return to the nests without knocking the eggs oil - . 
Although this swamp is of considerable extent and similar 
throughout, the breeding place was confined to a space of not 
more than twenty yards square, showing that like Sterna anglica, 
they breed in companies.” 
On the lltli of December, Mr. Bennett writes as follows:— 
“ To day I passed the swamp in which I obtained the Marsh- 
