2l6 BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 



has been a question of dispute for some time, but can now no longer 

 be doubted, as the near proximity of Long Island to Florida would 

 render its occurrence on our coast more than likely. In all prob- 

 ability it is a regular summer visitant to our southeastern shores. 

 Upon our arrival at Clarence Harbor we found it abundant, and 

 breeding in company with the Sooty and the Roseate Terns. Until 

 June S all the eggs which we found were cjuite fresh. 



In breeding habits the Bridled and the Sooty Terns resemble 

 each other. When about to lay, the female selects a sheltered cleft 

 in some ledge, or a cavity among the loose rocks along the shore, 

 and there deposits a single egg, which is slightly larger than that 

 of the Sooty Tern, and has a faint reddish tinge. 



AiVOUS STOLIDUS. {Linn) 

 Noddy Tern. 



Adult Male. — Bill, black; forehead, white, shading into gray at 

 the base of the skull ; lower eyelid, white ; front of the eye and nar- 

 row superciliary line, blackish ; entire plumage, rich olive-brown ; 

 primaries, dark brown, the first having the inner web pale brown ; 

 legs, black; iris, dark brown. 



Length 15, wing 10, tail 5.75, tarsus .80, bill 1.70. 



During the summer months these birds repair in immense quan- 

 tities to the uninhabited reefs and small islands to breed. At the 

 Miraporvos the islands were covered with them. Upon landing we 



