THE BIRDS OF LIBERIA 669 
shafts at the bases of first five or six wing-feathers, making a white mark; two central tail-feathers 
slightly longer than the others, pointed. Breeds in the arctic regions, wintering south to coasts of 
South Africa. 
A male taken at the seashore near Monrovia and an adult received by Biitti- 
kofer at the same place constitute the only records for this species. It is cur- 
rently regarded as a winter bird on the west coast of Africa from Liberia to Cape 
Colony (Sclater) but the fact that as I (1927) have elsewhere recorded, we saw 
numbers of immature Jaegers at sea slightly north of these coasts in early July, 
and again in November, makes it appear probable that the non-breeding and 
immature birds spend the summer in the latitudes of Sierra Leone. 
LARIDAE Terns and Gulls 
Sterna hirundo Linné. Common Tern 
Sterna hirundo Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, vol. 1, p. 137, 1758: Sweden. 
Length about 13 inches, wings long and narrow, tail deeply forked; top of head black, base of 
wings and back pearly gray, primaries with blackish band lengthwise on inner vane, tail and under 
parts white, feet red; bill red with black tip. Breeds in northern hemisphere. 
The Common Tern is probably a common winter bird on the coast of Liberia, 
but Buttikofer (1885) states that he found large flocks throughout the summer 
months near the mouths of the rivers at Cape Mount; an adult male in full 
breeding dress was shot there on July 26, and other “probably younger”’ birds 
on April 26, July 26, and in mid-August. Nevertheless it may be presumed that 
these represent non-breeding adults and first-year birds. Thompson (1925) 
says that this is the commonest tern in Freetown Harbor, Sierra Leone, and I 
saw a number there in early November, but not on our passage south in July. 
He adds that they sometimes come inland for winged ants. 
Sterna sandvicensis sandvicensis Latham. Sandwich Tern 
Sterna sandvicensis Latham, Gen. Synopsis, Suppl., vol. 1, p. 296, 1787: Sandwich, Kent, England. 
Slightly larger than preceding, but in general similarly marked, tail less forked, feet black, bill 
black, tipped with yellow. Breeds in Europe, winters in Africa coastwise, from Canaries to Cape 
of Good Hope. 
This is the Sterna cantiaca of Bittikofer’s lists. He found it uncommon ap- 
parently on the coasts, to which it is doubtless a regular winter visitor. On De- 
cember 3 he shot one of two seen flying over the surf at Robertport; others were 
seen or taken by him and his associates at Marshall (near the mouth of the Junk 
River), at Grand Bassa and the River Cess, while an inland record was furnished 
by a specimen secured by Stampfli near Old Field on the upper Junk. 
Sterna maxima albidorsalis Hartert. African Royal Tern 
Sterna maxima albidorsalis Hartert, V6g. pal. Fauna, vol. 2, p. 1698, 1921: Cape Blanco, Africa. 
Larger, length about 20 inches; crown and elongated feathers of occiput black, sides of neck 
and under side white, wings and back silver gray; tail and its coverts white; bill orange, feet black. 
In winter the crown is white, the elongated feathers black with white edges. West coast of Africa 
from Gibraltar to Angola. 
