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Show 648 MR. H. SAUNDERS ON THE STERNINA. [June 20, Sterna hirundo, Max. v. W. Beitr. iv. p. 865 (1833). Sterna antarctica, Peale (nee Lesson, nee Wagler, nee Forst.), U.S. Expl. Exp. p. 280 (1848) ; Ph. & Landbeck, Cat. Av. Chi-lenas, p. 49. Sterna meridionalis, Cassin (nee Brehm), U.S. Expl. Exp. p. 385 (1858) ; Schlegel, Mus. P.-B. Sterna, p. 15 (1863). Sterna wilsoni, Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 451. Sterna cassinii, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1860, p. 391 ; Abbott, Ibis, 1861, p. 166; v. Pelzeln, Novara-Reise, Vog. p. 153 (1865) ; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1871, p. 570; Gray, Hand-1. iii. p. 118 (1871). "Sterna meridionalis, Peale," Blasius, J. f. Orn. 1866, p. 74 (nee Peale). The range of this species, as defined by Messrs. Sclater and Salvin, is from Rio de Janeiro southwards to the Falkland Islands, and up the west coast of Chili as far north as Valdivia. Since then I have received specimens from Colchagua, in about 35° S. lat. ; and it may naturally be looked for even further north. It is the largest and the lightest in colour of the medium-sized Sea-Terns ; and the entire bill (which is long and powerful) is bright red in the adult. It is with regret that I do not adopt Mr. Sclater's name S. cassinii; but the examination of the type of S. hirundinacea shows that it is undoubtedly this species. S T E R N A ALBIGENA, Reich. Sterna albigena, Licht. Nomenclator, 1854 (descr. nulla); Reich. Schwimmvog. Suppl. xi. pl. xxi. fig. 816. Hydrochelidon albigena, Bonap. Compt. Rend. 1856, ii. p. 773. "Sterna senegalensis, Sw.," Heugl. Ibis, 1859, p. 351 ; Konig- Warth. Ibis, 1860, pp. 125, 432. Sterna albigena, Heugl. Faun. Roth. Meeres, no. 307, p. 32 (descr.) ; Schlegel. Mus. P.-B. Sterna, p. 20 (1863) ; Blasius, Journ. f. Ornith. 1866, p. 75; Finsch & Hartl. Vcig. Ost-Afr. iv. p. 834, tab. x. fig. 2 (1870). Pelodes albigena, Gray, Hand-list, iii. p. 122 (1871). In order to show the connexion between the three preceding species, it was necessary to pass over the present, which is a local and smoke-coloured form of typical Sterna, having no real affinity with Hydrochelidon. The tail is long and pointed, the bill narrow and straight; the feet are amply webbed; and it is, in a word, a small, slender, Common Tern, of a general smoky hue, the rump and tail being as dark as the mantle. I cannot understand how Finsch and Hartlaub fail to identify Reichenbach's figure in the ' Schwiinmvogel' with this species; for his illustration, though coarse, is decidedly far more recognizable than theirs in the ' Vog. Ost-Afrika's.' It is a very distinct form, which appears to have its head quarters in the Red Sea, south of the tropic of Cancer; and an interesting account of its breeding in the Dahalak archipelago is to be found in ' The Ibis,' 1861, p. 125. The eggs, two in number, are laid in July and August, on the flat coral reef, close to the beach, and resemble those of typical Sterna. Whilst writing this, Lord Walden has sent me |