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SHORT-TAU.KD TERN. 



GENUS II. IIYDROCHELIDON. THE BLACK TEENS. 

 «EN'. C)i. BUI, about as lonijaK head amS pointed. Toes, not webbed lo lips. Le^js, short. Tail, short and not deep- 

 ly forked. 



Members of this genus are generally very dark in colur. Sexes, similar. Tliere is but one speeies within our limits. 



HYDROOnELIDON NIGIIA. 

 Short-tailed Tern. 



Sterna niyra Linn , Syst. Nat. ; 1766, 227. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Form, slender. Size, small. Color. Adult. Under portion, head, and neck, sooty-black, becoming dark 



ashy-gray above, and hoary on primaries. Under wing coverts, ashy-blue, and under tail coverts, white. Iri.s, brown, bill 



and feet, black. Youny. Posterior iiortion of the head and patch around eye, dusky. Remainder of plumage, ashy-blue, 



tinged with reddish above and becoming white on forehead, throat, ring around neck, and central under parts. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Known by the small size, short tail, and dark colors. Distributed, in summer, throughout the AVest. Winters south 

 of the United States. Not uncommon on the coast of Massachusetts in autumn. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 9'50; stretch, 23'50; wing, SSH; tail, 350; bill, 

 1-12; tarsus, -55. Longest speoimon, KVOI); greatest extent of wing, 21'00; longest wing, H-75; tail. 4'0l>; bill, 1-26; tai'sus, 

 ■60. Shortest specimen, 9'00; smallest extent of wing, 23-00; shortest wing, 800; tail, S'OO; bill, 1-0.5; tarsus, -50. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Ei/(js. placed on the ground, three or four in number, pyriform in shape, and vai-ying from brown to greenish in color 

 spotted and blotched witli brown and lilac of varying shades. Dimensions from -90 .\ 1-25 to UOOx 1-40. 



HABITS. 



The Short-tailed Terns breed on the marshes in the vicinity of the Great Lakes, and 

 on the bodies of water throughout the West, but are not very uncommon along our New 

 England coast, late in Auguot, at which time all Terns are inclined to wander. These 

 birds, although fond of iish, live largely upon insects and are very expert at catching them. 

 In manner of flight, they resemble the Letist Tern. 



GENUS III. ANGUS. THE NODDYS. 



Gen. Cd. Bill, longer than head, e^irccd, and pointed. Toes, webbed to tips. Feet,lar(je, Lec/s, short. Tail,longana 

 rounded. 



Members of this genus are very dark in color. Sexes, similar. There is but one speeies within our limits. 



ANGUS STOLIDUS. 

 Noddy Tern. 



Anous slolidus Gv., List Gen.; 1841, 100. 

 DESCRIPTION. 

 Sp. Cn. Form, slender. Size, large. Co\a\-r. Advlt. Sooty-brown throughout, becoming darker on wings, tail, and 

 patch beforeeye. Crown, yellowish-white becoming ashy posteriorly. Iris and feet, brown, bill, black. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Easily recognized by the uniform dark colors and whiti.sli crown. Constantly resident on Florida Keys and Bahamas. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from Florida. Length, 15-50; stretch, 30-00; -wing, 1025; tail, 5-55; bill, l-fi2; 

 tareus,-98. Longest specimen, 16-00; greatest extent of wing, 3r 10; longest wing, 10-55; tail, 6 05; bill, 1-75; tarsus, 1-05. 

 Shortest specimen, 13-00; smallest extent of wing, 30-00; shortest wing, 10-05; tail, 4 95; hill, 1-52; tarsus, -93. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Afe/s, placed in trees, compased of sticks. ii>.i.s.t, only one in number, oval inform, ii.shy-ycllow in col.ir, spot- 

 ted and blotched with pale reddish-brown and lilac. Dimensions from l-42x 1-80 to 1-52x2-00. 



HABITS. 



The Noddy Tern is only found regularly on the west side of the Gulf Stream, on the 

 extreme southern Florida Keys, and breeds on Bird Key at the Dry Tortugas, in company 



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