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Show 660 MR. H. SAUNDERS ON THE STERNINvE. [Julie 20, sequence been generally referred to that species. On the other hand there can be no possible doubt as to the identity of Gray's description, accompanied as it is by a plate of the adult bird. I think, therefore, that it is desirable to retain the name of S. frontalis, in preference to making a change which might be considered arbitrary, and would certainly be productive of temporary confusion. In the white border to the inner webs of the primaries this Tern resembles S. dougalli, as remarked by Mr. Gould; it is, however, larger than that species, although not equal in size to S. cantiaca ; and the white frontal band and black bill will always serve to distinguish it. It appears to be a true Sea-Tern, breeding, according to Mr. Buller, in large colonies, and depositing its single egg on the bare rock, close to high-water mark. I have not seen specimens of the eggs; but, from the description, they seem to approach those of S. cantiaca in their general character. Under the name of S. melanorhyncha, Mr. Gould records the occurrence on the coast of Tasmania of a Tern which appears to be identical with this species; but with that exception it does not seem to leave the shores of N ew Zealand. STERNA TRUDEAUII, Audubon. Sterna trudeauii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. p. 125 ; id. B. Am. vii. p. 105 (1844) ; Lawr. B. N. A m . p. 861 (1860) ; Schl. Mus. P.-B. Sterna, p. 29 (1863) ; Gray, Hand-list, iii. p. 118 (1871); Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1871, p. 570 (Neotrop. Lar.) ; Landb. An. Univ. Chile, 1872, p. 515 ; Coues, B. N.W. Am. p. 675 (1874). Phatusa trudeauii, Blasius, J. f. Orn. 1866, p. 73. Sterna frobeenii, Ph. & Landb. Wieg. Arch. 1863, p. 125; Cat. Av. Chil. p. 49 (fide Scl. & Salv.) ; Landbeck, An. Univ. Chile, 1872, p. 515; Gray, Hand-list, iii. p. 118 (1871). This well-marked species is similar in size, shape of bill, and general plumage to S. forsteri in winter dress; but, unlike the majority of Terns, it never has the crest black, the crown being pure white, with only a transocular line on each side of the head; the mantle, wings, and tail are light grey ; the rump white, and the feet yellow. It occurs along the coast of South Brazil and the Argentine provinces, and also on that of Chili; but of its breeding-places and eggs nothing is yet known ; indeed, until lately, even skins were extremely rare in collections. Messrs. Sclater & Salvin and Dr. E. Coues are doubtful as to the type of this species having been really obtained on the coast of New Jersey-a doubt in which I share; but there is now no means of disproving Audubon's statement. With regard to S.frobeeni, which Messrs. Sclater and Salvin identified with this species, Mr. L. Landbeck, in the ' Anales de la Universidad de Chile,' maintains their distinctness, and gives an elaborate comparative description of each, the result of which is, to m y mind, to show more clearly than ever that his S.frobeeni is merely the present bird in immature plumage. |
