170 AVES. 



Lar. cyanorhynchus, Meyer. (The Common Gull.) When old, of a 

 beautiful white, with a light ash coloured mantle; the primary quills of the 

 wing partly black, with white spots at their tips, the feet and bill lead co- 

 loured. Feeds on shell fish. 



STERNA, Lin. 



The Terns, or Sea- Swallows, derive this latter appellation from their excess- 

 ively long and pointed wings and from their forked tail, which render their 

 flight and carriage analogous to those of Swallows. Their bill is pointed, 

 compressed, and straight, without curve or projection; the nostrils, placed 

 near its base, are oblong and pierced quite through; the membranes which 

 unite their toes are deeply emarginate, consequently they swim but seldom. 

 They fly over the waves in every direction and with great rapidity, uttering 

 loud cries, and skilfully raising from the surface of the water the Mollusca 

 and small Fish on which they feed. They also penetrate to the lakes and 

 rivers of the interior. There are several species. 

 We may also distinguish from the other Terns, 



THE NODDIES, 



Whose tail is not forked, and is nearly as long as the wings. There is a 

 slight projection under their bill, the first indication of that in the Mauves. 

 But one species is known, 



St. stolida, L. (The Noddy), which is a blackish brown, top of the head 

 whitish. Celebrated for the blundering manner in which it throws itself on 

 vessels. 



RHYNCHOPS, Lin. 



The Skimmers resemble the Terns in their small feet, long wings and forked 

 tail, but are distinguished from all birds by their extraordinary bill, the up- 

 per mandible of which is shorter than the other, both being flattened so as 

 to form simple blades, which meet without clasping. Their only mode of 

 feeding is by skimming their aliment from the surface of the water with the 

 lower mandible, which they effect while on the wing. One species, 



Ehym. nigra, L. (The Black Skimmer), is white, with a black mantle 

 and calotte; a white band on the wing; outside of the external quills of the 

 tail white; bill and feet red; hardly as large as a Pigeon. From the vici- 

 nity of the Antilles. 



FAMILY III. 

 TOTIPALMAT^E. 



The birds of this family are remarkable for having the thumb 

 united with the toes by one single membrane, a mode of organization 



