236 THE ANIMALS OP NEW ZEALAND 



The Little Tern.— Tara-itl 



Sterna nereis. 



Pale grey above, white below. Top of the head black. Tail white. 

 Bill and feet yellow. Length of the wing, 7.25 inches; of the tarsus, 

 0.6 inch. In the yoiuig the top of the head is white, mottled with black. 

 Egg — "White, spotted with grey; length, 1.35 inch. New Zealand and 

 Australia. 



It has been recorded that this bird visits the river-bed of the 

 Rakaia, in Canterbury, during the breeding season, not far 

 below the gorge of the river, and that it lays two eggs on the 

 bare ground. 



Genus Procelsterom. 



Tail graduated, feathers pointed, the outer pair shorter than 

 the next. Foot very long, the middle toe and claw longer than the 

 bill. Second quill the longest. Pacific Ocean. 



The Grey Noddy. 



Procelsterna cinerea. 



Grey, the back darker; the secondaries bordered with white. Bill 

 black. Legs and toes brown; the webs yellow. Eye blackish blue. 

 Length of the wing, 8.5 inches; of the tarsus, 1 inch. Egg — Pinkish 

 cream, sparingly dotted with brown; length 1.7 inch. Kermadec Islands 

 and Australia. 



Genus Micranous. 



Tail graduated. Bill long and slender. Third quill the longest. 

 Tropical and sub-tropical seas. 



The White-capped Noddy. 



Micranous leucocapiUus. 



Black, the top of the head grey. Length of the wing, 8.9 inches; of 

 the tarsus, 0.9 inch. Egg — White or pale pink, blotched principally at 

 the larger end with reddish brown; length, 1.7.oinch. Kermadec Islands^ 

 Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. 



