Description
Common name: Caspian Tern
Binomial name Hydroprogne caspia (formerly Sterna caspia)
First described: Pallas, 1770
Distribution: Australia wide
In John Latham’s, General History of Birds, vol 10 p.174-5, his description of Fuliginous Petrel as illustrated and described in John Whites, Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales, he states that he is unsure whether this bird is the Black Petrel (‘inhabits the sea, in the neighbourhood of Port Jackson’) or the Norfolk Island Petrel (Mutton Bird).
Extract from, John White’s, Journal of a voyage to New South Wales
‘This is probably nothing more than a variety of the Procellaria quinoctialis of Linnaeus. It’s size is nearly that of a raven. The whole bird is of a deep sooty brown, or blackish, except that on the chin is a small patch of white running down a little on each side from the lower mandible. The beak is of a yellowish-white.’
From John White’s, Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales
References:
Ferguson, J. A. Bibliography of Australia Volumes 1-8, Canberra 1976 97.
Hill, J. The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages. San Diego 1974 1858.
Nissen, C. Die illustrierten Vogelbucher. Stuttgart 1995 ZBI 4390.
Abbey, J.R. Travel in Aquatint and Lithography 1770-1860. London 1972 605.
Wantrup, J. Australian Rare Books. Sydney 1987 17.
Crittenden, V. A Bibliography Of The First Fleet. ACT 1982 248.
Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 87340
State Library New South Wales: Call Number: MRB/Q991/2A2
National Gallery Victoria: Accession Number2012.31
State Library Victoria: CCF 919.44 W58
National Museum of Australia: Object number 2007.0035.0001
In John Latham’s, General History of Birds, vol 10 p.174-5, his description of Fuliginous Petrel as illustrated and described in John Whites, Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales, he states that he is unsure whether this bird is the Black Petrel (‘inhabits the sea, in the neighbourhood of Port Jackson’) or the Norfolk Island Petrel (Mutton Bird).
Extract from, John White’s, Journal of a voyage to New South Wales
‘This is probably nothing more than a variety of the Procellaria quinoctialis of Linnaeus. It’s size is nearly that of a raven. The whole bird is of a deep sooty brown, or blackish, except that on the chin is a small patch of white running down a little on each side from the lower mandible. The beak is of a yellowish-white.’
