| OCR Text |
Show 1876.] MR. H. SAUNDERS ON THE STERNINA. 641 Sterna innotata, Beavan, Ibis, 1868, p. 404 (imm.). Pelodes delalandii, Gray, Hand-list, iii. p. 122 (1871). Pelodes indica et P. fluviatilis, Gray, Hand-list, iii. pp. 121, 122 (1871). Gelochelidon innotata, Gray, Hand-list, iii. p. 1 19 (1871). Pelodes hybrida, Gurney, Andersson's B. of Damaraland, p. 362 (1872); Gray, Hand-list, iii. p. 121 (1871). "Sterna leucoptera" (in error), Buckley, Ibis, 1874, p. 391 (Transvaal). After examining a very large series, I am unable to detect any constant difference between European, Indian, and Australian specimens. Examples in breeding-plumage are absolutely identical ; and it is much if a trifling inferiority in size can be remarked in the Indian, and a slightly paler tint in the coloration of the upper parts of Australian examples. The general range of the species may therefore be described as from the extreme west of Europe to the coasts of China and the island of Formosa and throughout the Malayan region down to Australia, principally the Queensland portion. It occurs in South Africa abundantly in winter, and probably breeds there, as Andersson obtained it in full plumage in April. In the British Museum there is a mounted specimen marked as obtained at Barbadoes and presented by Sir Robert Schomburgk, who was for some time Governor of that West-Indian colony ; but there does not appear to be any other record of its occurrence so far west, even as a straggler. HYDROCHELIDON LEUCOPTERA, Meisn. & Schinz. Sterna flssipes et S. navia, Pallas, Zoogr. Rosso-As. ii. pp. 337-8 (1811), nee Linn. Sterna leucoptera, Meisner & Schinz, Vog. Schweiz, p. 264 (1815) ; Temm. Man. d'Orn. p. 483 (1815). Hydrochelidon leucoptera, Boie, Isis, 1822, p. 563 ; Buller, B. New Zealand, p. 287 (1873) ; Dresser, B. of Europe, pt. xiv. (Nov. 1875). Viralva leucoptera, Steph. in Shaw's Gen. Zool. xiii. p. 170 (1826). Hydrochelidon leucopterum, Bp. Comp. List, p. 61 (1838). Hydrochelidon nigra, G. R. Gray, Gen. Birds, iii. p. 660 (nee Linn.) (1849) ; Bias. J. f. Orn. 1866, p. 82; Swinhoe, Ibis, 1863, p. 97, P. Z. S. 1863, p. 28, P. Z. S. 1871, p. 4*21 (China); Gurney, Andersson's B. Damara-land, p. 363 (1872) ; G. R. Gray, Handlist, iii. p. 121 (1871) ; Coues, B. N.W. America, p. 709 (1874). Hydrochelidon subleucoptera, C. L. Brehm, Vogelfang, p. 350 (1855). Hydrochelidon javanica, Swinhoe, Ibis, 1860, p. 68, 1861, p. 345 (nee Horsfield). Sterna nigra, Schlegel. M . P.-B. Sterna, p. 31 (1863). Hydrochelidon niger, Severtzoff, Turk. Jevotnie, p. 70 (1873), fide Dresser. The description of this species was given hy Meisner and Schinz, |
