286 NODDY TERN. 



In the more marshy districts of the European con- 

 tinent this tern is also found, most abundant in 

 Holland and Hungary, and it is known to reach to 

 the north-eastern Asiatic boundary. The American 

 bird is identical and there frequent. 



Head and back of the neck black, shading on the 

 throat, breast, and belly, to deep blackish grey ; 

 vent and under tail-covers white ; in like manner 

 the black on the upper parts shades into deep 

 bluish grey, which is nearly of a uniform tint over 

 the wings and tail ; the outer web of the first quill 

 is black, a narrow pale list bordering the edge of 

 the inner ; bill black ; feet and legs reddish black, 

 the palmations of the toes very deeply cut, claws 

 comparatively long. 



The plumage of winter ia described as being white 

 on the crown, back of the neck, cheeks, throat, and 

 fore part of the neck. In the young the under plu- 

 mage is entirely white. 



THE NODDY TERN, STERNA STOLIDA. The 

 Noddy Tern, Noddy, or Black Noddy, of British 

 authors. The last tern we have to describe as British 

 has only lately been noticed, two specimens having 

 been recorded as obtained between the Tasker light- 

 house, off the coast of Wexford, and Dublin Bay. It 

 appears also to be occasionally seen off the coast of 

 France, but its precarious appearance is such that 

 it can only be esteemed as a straggling visitant to 

 any parts of the European coasts. It is a Nortfe 



