BIRDS — STERNIDAE — EHYNCHOPINAE. 



865 



List of specimens. 



ANOUS, Leach. 



Anous, "Leach," Steph. Shaw's Gen. Zool. XIII, 1825, 139. 



Ch. — Bill longer than the head and strong ; the upper mandible curving gradually to the tip, which is rather acut«, the angle 

 on the lower mandible quite prominent ; nostrils lateral and longitudinal ; wings very long and pointed, first quUl longest ; 

 tail long and graduated ; tarsi rather short and slender ; toes long and united by a full web ; the hind toe long and slender ; 

 claws slender, arched and acute. 



These are tropical birds, are much at sea and often seen at great distances from land ; hut 

 one species is found off our coast. 



ANOUS STOLIDUS, Leach. 



The Noddy Tern. 



Sterna stolida, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 227.— Bonap. Syn. 1825, No. 291.— Ndtt. Man. II, 1834, 285.— Add. 

 Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 516 : V, 1839, 642.— Ib. Birds Am. VII, 1842, 123 ; pi. ccccxl. 



Anous stolida. Leach. 



Sp. Ch. — Adult. Front part of the head grayish white ; a black spot over and before the eye ; the remainder of the plumage 

 sooty brown, except the primaries and tail, which are brownish black ; bill black ; iris brown ; legs and feet of a dull 

 brownish red ; the webs dusky. 



Length, 15 inches ; wing, lOi ; tail, 5^ ; bill, 1| ; tarsus, }^ 



Hab. — Texas to Florida. 



Specimens in my cabinet and that of Prof. Baird. 



Sub-Family RHYNCHOPINAE. 



Ch. The mandibles are of very unequal length, the upper being much shorter and grooved to receive the edge of the lower > 



from the base their sides are suddenly compressed to the end ; wings very long and narrow ; tail forked and of moderate 

 length ; tarsi a little longer than the middle toe ; anterior united by an indented web. 



These birds abound most in the tropics ; they frequent the large bays and the inlets connecting 

 them with the ocean ; their principal food is fish, which they obtain by skimming close to the 

 surface of the water, into which they dip the lower mandible, suddenly closing it into the upper 

 when it comes in contact with their desired prey. They have a peculiar undulating mode of 

 flying. They are said rarely, if ever, to swim or rest upon the water, although possessing 

 webbed feet. 



Aii«^st31,1838. 



109 b 



