Sterna media (Lesser Crested Tern).

Superb lithograph with original hand colouring of the Lesser Crested Tern from the last great series on Australian ornithology, The Birds of Australia by G. Matthew’s.

This series is rarer than John Gould’s work on Australian birds, with only 225 sets made. It was the last series produced using the laborious process of hand colouring of each individual lithograph.

Common name:
Aboriginal names:

Modern binomial name: Thalasseus bengalensis
First described: Lesson, 1831
Distribution: North Australia as far as Oyster Bay in Qld and North West Cape in NW Australia.

References:
Anker, J. Bird Books and Bird Art. Amsterdam 1979 : 328.
Nissen, C. Die illustrierten Vogelbucher. Stuttgart 1995 : IVB 605.
Collections:
State Library New South Wales: Call Numbers: MRB/F598.2/M
State Library Victoria: RARESF 598.2994 M42
State Library of Western Australia: Call Number Q 598.2994 MAT
0mm x 0mm- T- B- S-
State Library South Australia: Rare Books Room 598.294 M429
National Library Australia: Rex Nan Kivell Collection ; NK9772
State Library Queensland: RBF 598.2994
National Museum of Australia: Call no: AIA F 598.2994 MAT