the nest. On such occasions, it does not disgorge its food, like the Cayenne
Tern and other species, although it bites severely,- with quickly repeated
movements of the bill, which, on missing the object aimed at, snaps like that
of our larger Fly-catchers. Some which I kept several days, refused all
kinds of food, became dull and languid, and at length died.
Sterna stolida, Bonap. Syn., p. 356.
Noddy, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 285.
Noddy Tern, Sterna stolida, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iii. p. 516; vol. v. p. 642. Male, 16 T 4 3, 32.
Abundant on the Gulf of Mexico during the whole year. Breeds in vast multitudes on the Tortugas Keys.
Adult Male.
Bill longer than the head, strong, slender, nearly straight, compressed, very acute. Upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly arched, the ridge broad and convex at the base, narrowed towards the end, the sides convex, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip acute. Nasal groove extended to beyond half the length of the bill, slightly deflected towards the edge; nostrils sub-medial, linear, direct, pervious. Lower mandible with the angle very narrow, acute, extending to the middle, the dorsal line straight, or very slightly concave, the sides convex, the sharp edges inflected, the tip extremely acute.
Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed; neck of moderate length; body slender; feet very short, rather stout. Tibia bare for a short space; tarsus very short, roundish, covered anteriorly with small scutella, laterally and behind with reticulated scales; toes slender, the first very small, the third longest, the fourth nearly as long, the second much shorter, all scutellate above, the anterior united by reticulated webs, having an incurved margin; claws curved, compressed, acute, that of hind toe smallest, of middle toe by much the largest, and having the inner edge thin and dilated.
Plumage soft, close, blended, very short on the head; the feathers in general broad and rounded. Wings very long, narrow, and pointed; primary quills tapering but rounded, the first longest, the rest rapidly graduated; secondaries short, broad, rather acute, the inner more tapering. Tail long, cuneate, of twelve tapering rounded feathers.
Bill black. Iris brown. Feet dull brownish-red, the webs dusky, the claws black. The general colour is sooty brown; the primaries and tail- feathers browmish-black; the upper part of the head greyish-white; a black spot anterior to and over the eye.
Length to end of tail 16 T %, to end of wings 16 T V, to end of claws 13||;
