Tlin NODDY TERN. 585 



The Common Tern in its adult state is from thirteen to fourteen inches in length. The 

 forehead, top of the head, and long feathers of the occiput are deep black ; the posterior 

 part of the neck, back, and wings, bluish-ash ; the lower parts pure white, with the 

 exception of the breast, which is slightly clouded with ash-colour. • The bill is crimson- 

 red, often blackish towards the point. The iris is reddish-brown. The feet are red. 



Though not universally found on the British coasts, it is, nevertheless, very abun- 

 dant on the southern shores ; it is less so on the nortliern. Its range is not extended 

 over the American continent ; but it is supposed to reach from the Arctic Circle to the 

 Mediterranean, and even to the coasts of Africa and India. 



"The Common Tern," says Jlr. Gould, "although not universally dispersed over our 

 coasts, is nevertheless a very abundant species, being found in great numbers oyer the 

 southern shores, but more sparingly over the northern, which are almost exclusively 

 inhabited by its near ally, the Arctic Tern. It is now satisfactorily ascertained that the 

 common tern does not extend its range to the American continent, and that its place 

 is there supplied by another species, to which the Prince of Musignano, now Prince 

 of Caniiio, has given the specific appellation of Wihoiii, in honour of the celebrated 

 ornithologist by whom it was first described. 



" The common tern does not confine itself entirely to the sea, but frequently resorts to 

 inland streams, etc. ; and when, thus ascending our creeks and rivers, these little fairies 

 of the ocean fearlessly fish around our boats, nothing can be more pleasing than to 

 observe their poise and dip. When, with their scrutinising eyes, they have observed a 

 fish sufhcientl}- near the surface, they precipitate themsehes upon it with unerring 

 certainty, and rapidity that is truly astonishing. This mode of capture strongly reminds 

 us of the flssirostral tribe among the land-birds, and they may indeed be truly termed 

 the swallows of the ocean, their long and pointed wings, and small but muscular bodies, 

 being admirably adapted for rapid and sustained flight, and affording the means by which 

 they are enabled to traverse the surface of the deep with never-tiring wings." 



THE NODDY TEKN.* 



The wings of this bird reach beyond the rounded tail. The forehead is white, passing 

 into gray-ash towards the top of the head, and into a deeper graj- at the occiput ; in 

 front of the eyes there is a deep black patch ; the throat and cheeks are gray-brown ; all 

 the upper and lower plumage is chocolate or sooty-brown. The bill and feet are black. 

 The length of the bird is about a foot. 



Of the habits of this bird, Mr. Nuttall thus speaks : — " Familiar to mariners who 

 navigate in the equatorial regions, the Noddy, like the voyager, frequents the open seas to 

 the distance of some hundred leagues from the land ; and, with many other birds of similar 

 appetites and propensities, they are seen in great flights, assiduously following the shoals 

 of their finny prey. They pursue them by flying near the surface of the water, and may 

 now be seen continually dropping on the small fish which approach the surface to shun 

 the persecution of the greater kinds, by which they are also harassed. 



"A rippling and silvery whiteness in the water marks the course of the timid and 

 timiultuous shoals ; and the whole air resounds with the clangor of these gluttonous and 

 greedy birds, who, exulting or contending for success, fill the air with their varied but 

 discordant cries. Where the strongest rippling appears, there the thickest swarm of 

 noddies and sea-fowl are usually assembled. They frequently fly on board of ships at 

 sea, and are so stupid or indolent on such occasions, as to suffer themselves to be taken 

 by the hand from the yards on which they settle ; they sometimes, however, when seized, 

 bite and scratch with great resolution, leading one to imagine that they are disabled often 



• Sterna stolida. — Jciiyns. 



