SHORT-TAILED TEPN 481 



GENUS II. IIYDROCIIELIDON. THE BLACK TERNS. 



Gf.v I'll. Bill, about as /any at /lead and pointed. Toe*, not webbed to lips. Leys, short. Tail, short <mJ not <//*- 

 lyfurkul. 



Members of this genus an; generally very dark in color. Sexes, similar. There is but one species within our limits. 



HYDROCHELIDON NIGTIA. 



Short -tailed Tern. 

 Sterna niyra LINN , Syst. Nat. ; 1766, 227. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sr. Cn. Form, slender. Size, small. COLOR. Adult. Under portion, head, and neck, sooty-black, becoming dark 

 ashy-gray above, and hoary on primaries. Under wing coverts, nshv-blue, and under tail coverts, white. JrLs, brown, bill 

 ami left, black. Youny. Posterior portion of the head and patch around eye, dusky. Remainder of plumage, ashy-blue, 

 tinged with reddish above and becoming white on forehead, throat, ring around neck, and central under parts. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the small si/.e, short tail, and dark colors. Distributed, in summer, throughout the West. Winters south 

 of the United States. .\..( uncommon on the coast of Massachusetts in autumn. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 9-50; stretch, 23'50; wing, 8'3!; tail, 3'50; bill, 

 T12; tarsus, -55. Limgest specimen, lO'OO; greatest extent of wing, 2VOO; longest wing, H'75; tail. 4'00; bill, 1'25; tarsus, 

 60. Shortest specimen, 9'00; smallest extent of wing, 23-00; shortest wing, 8'00; tail, 3'00; bill, 1'05; tarsus, -50. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



^<W7 X > placed on the ground, three or four in number, pyrifonn in shape, and varying from brown to greenish in color 

 spotted and blotched with brown and lilac of varying shades. Dimensions from '90x 1'25 to 1'OOx 1'40. 



HABITS. 



The Short-tailed Terns breed on the marshes in the vicinity of the Great Lakes, and 

 on the bodies of water throughout the West, but are not very uncommon along our New 

 England const, late in August, at which time all Terns are inclined to wander. These 

 birds, although fond offish, live largely upon insects and are very expert at catching them. 

 In manner of fliglit, they resemble the Least Tern. 



GENUS III. ANGUS. - THE NODDYS. 



GKX. Cu. Bill, lonyer than head, curved, and pointed. Toes, webbed to tips. Feet, large, Legs, short. Tail, long ana 

 roundf.it. 



Members of this genus are very dark in color. Sexes, similar. There is but one species within our limits. 



ANOiJS STOLIDUS. 



Noddy Tern. 

 Anous sto/idus GY.. List Gen.; 1841, 100. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sr. CM. Form, slender. Size, large. COLOR. Adult. Sooty-brown throughout, becoming darker on wings, tail, and 

 patch before eye. Crown, yellowish-white becoming ashy posteriorly. Iris and feet, brown, bill, black. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Easily recognized by the uniform dark colors and whitish crown. Coastantly resident on Florida Keys and Bahamas. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from Florida. Length, 15-50; stretch, 30'60; wing, 10 25; tail, 5'55; bill, 1-62; 

 ( tarsus, -9S. Longest specimen, 16'00; greatest extent of wing, 31 10; longest wing, HV55; tail, 6 05, bill, 1 75; tarsus, 1-05. 

 Shortest specimen, 13'00; smallest extent of wing, 30-00; shortest wing, 10'05; tail, 4 95; bill, 1-52 ; tarsus, -3. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nfft.i. placed in trees, composed of sticks. Kyys, two or three in number, oval in f,>rm, iisliy-yellow in color , spot- 

 ted and blotched with pale reddish-brown and lilac. Dimensions from 1'4J.\ I'M! to 1 f>'J xii't'O. 



II. VISITS. 



The Noddy Tern is only found regularly on Hie west side of the Gulf Stream, on I In- 

 extreme southern Florida Keys, and breeds on Bird Key at the Dry Tortugos, in company 



