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Show 1876.] MR. H. SAUNDERS ON THE STERNINA. 671 Finsch & Hartl. F. Centralpolynesiens, p. 237 (1867); Gray, Hand-list, iii. p. 123 (1871). Sterna leucocapilla, Schlegel, M . Pays-Bas, Sterna, p. 37 (1863). This form is apparently less widely diffused than some of its congeners. Mr. Gould's specimens were obtained at Raines Islet, Australia, where it is said to be very abundant. There is a specimen in the British Museum, from Bristow Island, south coast of New Guinea (from which the figure Plate LXI. fig. 3, is taken); and the United-States Exploring Expedition found it breeding at Paumotu Island, where its single egg was deposited upon the bare ground instead of in a nest. There is no grey about the head or cheeks, but, with the exception of the white crown, the whole plumage is of a sooty brown-black ; the foot is perhaps a trifle more slender in A. tenuirostris or A. melanogenys; but it is difficult to judge from dried skins. A N O U S C E R U L E U S (Bennett). Sterna carulea, F. D. Bennett, Narr. Whaling-Voy. round Globe, ii. App. p. 248 (1840)-Christmas Island and other coral formations of the Pacific. "Sterne cendre," Neboux, Rev. Zool. Oct. 1840, p. 291. Sterna teretirostris, Lafresnaye, Rev. Zool. 1849, p. 242. Procelsterna tereticollis, Lafresnaye, Rev. Zool. 1842, pl. 29 (type of Procelsterna). Stolida cinerea, Neboux, Voy. Venus, Atlas, pl. 9 (1846). Anous cinereus, Gould, P. Z. S. 1845, p. 104 ; id. B. Australia, vii. pl. 46 (1848)-Norfolk I. and N.E. coast, Australia; Prevost & Des Murs, Voy. Venus, v. p. 276 (1855); Finsch & Hartlaub, F. Centralpolynesiens, p. 239 (1867). Anous parvulus, Gould, P. Z. S. xiii. (1845) p. 104 ; Cassin, U.S. Expl. Exp., Birds, p. 393 (1858)-Paumotu group. Pelecanopus pelecanoides!, G. R. Gray, List of Birds in Brit. Mus. pt. iii. p. 180 (fide Gould, ut supra). Megalopterus plumbeus, Peale, U.S. Expl. Exp. p. 285 (1848). Procelsterna albivitta, Bp. Compt. Rend. 1856, p. 773; Gould, Hand-b. B. Austr. ii. p. 420 (1865); Gray, Hand-list, iii. p. 123 (1871). Sterna cinerea, Schlegel, M . P.-B. Sterna, p. 38(1863). Procelsterna cinerea, Gray, Hand-list, iii. p. 123 (1871). I have much pleasure in restoring to this well-defined species the name originally given to it by Mr. F. Debell Bennett, whose specimen from Christmas Island is described by Mr. Gould in P. Z. S. xiii. (1845) p. 104, under the name of Anous parvulus, in ignorance, no doubt, of the fact that Mr. Bennett had already given it a name accompanied by an excellent description. It may always be recognized by its pale grey head, neck, and underparts, and somewhat darker upper parts, the colour becoming deeper on the tail; the primaries are the darkest part; and the secondaries are broadly tipped with white, forming a distinct band. Neboux's figure is too dark • and, in spite of the vellow-coloured webs to the feet peculiar 44* |
