670 



MEGALOPTERUS. NODDY. 



The Noddies differ from the Terns in nothing very essen- 

 tial, although the}' are readily distinguished hy their dusky 

 colour, graduated tail, and less attenuated wings. The bill 

 is somewhat longer than the head, slender, but rather strong, 

 nearly straight, compi-essed, very acute ; the upper mandible 

 Avith the dorsal line straight for half its length, then gently 

 arcuato-declinate, the sides coiivex, the edges sharp and 

 inflexed, the tip acute ; the nasal grooves extending to beyond 

 the middle ; the lower mandible narrow, with the angle very 

 narroAV, the junction of the crura beyond the middle, the 

 dorsal line ascending and slightly concave, the edges sharp 

 and inflexed, the tip attenuated. 



The mouth of moderate width ; the tongue very slender, 

 tapering to a horny point. The oesophagus very wide, much 

 dilated at its lower part ; the stomach very small, moderately 

 muscular, with dense and longitudinally rugous epithelium ; 

 intestine of moderate length, narrow, with very small coeca. 



Nostrils sub-medial, linear oblong, rather large, pervious. 

 Eyes of moderate size, as are the apertures of the ears. Feet 

 very short ; tibia bare to a small extent ; tarsus very short, 

 roundish, with broad but short scutella ; toes slender, the 

 first very small, the third a little longer than the fourth ; 

 the interdigital membranes full, the inner slightly concave ; 

 claws arcuate, compressed, acute, that of the third toe pro- 

 portionally larger. 



Plumage soft, close, blended. Wings very long, narrow, 

 pointed ; the primary quills tapering to a rounded tip. Tail 

 long, graduated, of twelve soft, tapering, obtuse feathers. 



These birds, remarkable for the gliding buoyancy and 

 extent of their flight, abound in the warmer parts of the 

 Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Their habits are in general 



