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Show 1876.] MR. H. SAUNDERS ON THE STERNINJE. 647 The egg is of the ordinary Tern-like character, with a trifle olive-green in the ground-colour than is usual in eggs of A fluviatilis, but which is not rare in a series of those of S. macrura. Dr. Kidder, Naturalist to the American Expedition to observe the Transit of Venus, describes the birds as very bold, swooping at the head of any one who approaches their breeding-grounds, and actually scaring the Skuas by their impetuous attacks. There can be no doubt that this was the species obtained by the Americans; but Dr. Coues is. mistaken in identifying it with S. vittata, Gm., of which he can hardly have examined a genuine specimen, or he would never have confounded two such perfectly distinct species. STERNA VITTATA, Gm. Sterna vittata, Gm. S. Nat. i. p. 609 (1788) (founded on Latham's Wreathed Tern, from Christmas Island) ; Pelzeln, Novara- Reise, Vogel, p. 152 (1865) (full description). Gmelin's description, founded on Latham, fairly suits this species, although I am inclined to doubt the correctness of the locality assigned, viz. Christmas Island, especially as there is no mention in Cook's Voyages of any Tern being found there, except the Sooty Tern, of which there is a full description. However, it has not been applied to any other bird ; and in the Ornithology of the • Voyage of the Novara,' Herr von Pelzeln adopted the name for the present species, obtained at St. Paul's Island, about 700 miles to the north of Kerguelen Island, giving a full description, both in Latin and German ; so that the name may fairly be accepted. The British Museum possesses both adult (in breeding-plumage) and immature specimens obtained at St. Paul's Island in January 1853, and also a specimen from Kerguelen Island ; there is another, taken on board H.M.S. 'Rattlesnake,' in 38° 22' S., 0° 25' W., on 27th February 1847; and I have a specimen, also captured on board ship, near the island of St. Helena, in April, for which I am indebted to my friend Mr. E. Hargitt. In general appearance this Tern much resembles S. hirundinacea, Lesson (S. cassini, Scl.); but it is decidedly smaller, and more generally washed with grey below ; the bill, which is red, is rather weak, and tapers very suddenly from the angle to the tip. In the adult the tail is long, forked, and very white. It is interesting to find a species which apparently has its head quarters at St. Paul's Island, reaching down on the one hand to Kerguelen Island, where it meets with another species closely allied to S. antarctica of New Zealand, and then stretching away to the west of our meridian and approaching the limits of the South-American species, with which its affinities are undoubtedly strongest, and thus connecting South America with New Zealand by way of the islands of the South Atlantic Ocean. STERNA HIRUNDINACEA, Less. Sterna hirundinacea, Lesson, Tr. d'Orn. p. 621 (1831) ; Pucheran, Rev. Zool. 1850, p. 539 (Santa Catharina, Brazil; type in Paris Mus. examined, H. S.). |
