270 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
Notes .—Also called Southern White-fronted Tern. This species is 
not common, generally being seen in small flocks flying over the waters 
of harbours and bays; similar in habits and economy to the other species 
of Terns. It breeds in colonies on islands off the south-eastern coast of 
Tasmania, on Auckland and Chatham Islands, and at New Zealand. 
Nest .—A depression in the sand or gravel; generally on beaches, just 
above high-water mark. ' 1 
Eggs. — Two, varying from faint yellowish-stone to very pale cr re en- 
lsh-grey or pale coffee-brown, covered with irregular-shaped dots °spots 
and blotches, and a few hair-like lines of sepia and brownish-black and 
underlying markings of grey. The markings vary considerably being 
De“Xr d " B re eding-Ieoso„® 
19. Crested Tern Sterna bergii Lichtenstein 
bergii — C. H. Bergius, Swedish scientist. 
Distribution .— Indian and western Pacific Oceans, from the Cape of 
nn°d ' * eaS T tC r Atnca to the Red Sea ’ southern Asia to Japan 
Tasmania. Wanan ’ ^ l ° the Fiji IsIands - Australia, and 
Notes . —Also called Swift Tern. Rupnell Tern Bncc t 
Torres Strait Tern, and Village Blacksmith This is thf commonest^ 
Caspian Tern°1?Jh”? inle ? ° f Aust . ralia and Tasmania, and next to the 
Caspian -Lem is the largest species inhabiting our qmc t ♦ • •, 
habits and economy to the other species of T -hk n * a * V S s,mi ar In 
on islands off M.o Casts throu^S 11s eCdS colo,liK 
Nest.— A depression in the sand or earth. 
blotch’A 1° ; iark f tone ' boldl >' sotted and 
pale lavender. The “ rv ™ nS A n ! a ", d ,m<,erl -'™S "»rkinp of 
shape and colour of thf markdnS^ iL Wy tl £ pround coI °«r and the 
the commonest type. Breeding-s’eason^Orml^^^ a T b0ve being: perhnps 
and Tasmania). eeaing season . October to January (Australia 
20. Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis Lesson 
bengalensis—oi the Bay of Bengal. 
5f d ea T Wn “»* -f Africa 
Arabian Sea. Ibj-al B»nl j 1 ,S' Il l Khan 0crai >- P«s« Gulf, 
Islands and northern Auftralia Archipela &°. ^nd China, to the An. 
otherwise it is^ilniTar -u",i/l 1 ' 1 " tIu ‘ ° thcr Species of Terns ' 
from the Crested Tern by its smaller *? d econoni - v - 11 ma .V Oc identified 
forehead. Breeds in colonies on iS,n f ' ° ran S c -yellow hill, and black 
range. CO '° nies on lsIand s off the coasts throughout its 
