NODDY TEftN. 537 



NATATOPE8. 



THE NODDY TERN. 



Sterna stolida. 



Sterna stolida, Black Noddy, JENYNS, Brit. Yert. p. 270. 



Anous EYTON, Rarer Brit. Birds, p. 70. 



Sterna Noddy Tern, GOULD, Birds of Europe. 



H. de mer Noddy, TEMM. Man. d'Ornith. vol. iv. p. 461. 



Two examples of this Tern were shot in the summer 

 of 1840, between the Taster Light-House, off the coast of 

 Wexford, and Dublin Bay. The fact was recorded, after 

 the examination of both specimens, by Wm. Thompson, 

 Esq., of Belfast, in publications devoted to natural history, 

 and was then the first record of the occurrence of the 

 Sterna stolida in Europe. The specimens are both pre- 

 served. It is stated by Thos. Austin, Esq., in the Annals 

 and Magazine of Natural History, "that this species is 

 a summer visitor to St. George's Channel, but is so ex- 

 ceedingly shy that the writer could never get a shot at 

 one, though watching many times for a chance ; the bird 



