H' '1| 





32G 



LONG-WINOED SWIMMERS — LONGIPEXNES. 



Pulinym Isluiul ; T. II. Streets) : Similur, but liwul uniform j^rayiHli l)ro\vn, the frontk't hoiii v 

 graviMli. 



Tolul length, about 1().(X) iiichus ; extent, :U.(H) ; wiiii;, KMKi-lO.riO ; tail, (i.lH) ; culnien, 1.75 ; 

 dejitii of bill at base, .38 ; tawun, 1.0(» ; niiiliUe toi', witii iluw, 1. ■!.'). 



There is con.sideralile vuriation ainon;^ diirerenl siarinieii.s in rf;;ar(l to the color of the ])ilfuni, 

 which is friMiucnlly grayish, the e.vtrenie anterior part of the forehuud only white. In donie 

 examples the head mid neck uic deciiledly plumbeous. 



The common Noddy Tern appears to be an intertropical species, and to be found 

 round the entire surface of the globe, both north and soutli of the eipuitor, at a di.s- 

 tance from it of randy exceeding thirty degrees north or south. While the specinuMis 

 from the shores and ishmds of the Tacitie Ocean differ, with considerable uniformity, 

 in certain respects from those obtained on the Atlantic coast, these differenctes arc 

 small and unimportant, and apparently not sutticient to warrant us in sepiirating 

 specuiically the birds of tht; Atlantic froju those of the I'acitic. This being the case, 

 it is evident that this bird has a very extended range. 



It is mentioned by the naturalists connected with the Wilkes Expedition as havini,' 

 been observed at widely distant points in the I'acitic Ucean. Oiu; speciiuen having 

 been attracted by the ship's light at night, was obtained by ^Ir. i'eale on the ecpiator, 

 in longitude 17° 44', in the Atlantic Ocean. It was not distinguishable from othci's 

 obtained at the Dangerous Archipelago or New Zealand. Unlike the Sooty Tern, 

 the presence of tliis bird does not indicate the vicinity of land. On the islands of the 

 Pacific Mr. Peale found it building its nests of sticks, on trees ; the eggs being brown- 

 ish white, spotted with reddish brown, 2.20 inches long and 1.50 inches in breadth. 



Dr. Pickering mentions this species as of common occurrence at Gardner's Island, 

 August 19. Its nest was built in the fork of a tree, with niucdi more care than is 

 usual in this family. The egg or young was single in all instances noticed. Subse- 

 quently at sea, September 4, he states that one of this species alighted on the tatfrail, 

 and was taken by hand. It had very limited power of perching, and jtreferred walk- 

 ing. At first it seemed awkward and confused, but in an hour became accustomed to 

 confinement, and very carefully adjusted its feathers. It was set at liberty in tlic 

 afternoon, but would not leave the ship for some time. The occurrence of this bird 

 at nearly all the points visited by the Expedition in the Southern Pacific Ocean is 

 mentioned by Dr. I'ickering. 



Mr. J. C. JMelliss (" Ibis," 1870) speaks of this species as being a common bird on 

 the Island of St. Helena. It is described as a less shy and retiring species than the 

 other sea-birds, frequenting the roadstead, where, in the neighborhood of ships ridini; 

 at anchor, it may be seen sitting on the surface of the water, or in close proximity to 

 a boat. It inhabits principally the cliffs of the islets — as, for instance, Egg Island — 

 where it breeds in swarms. It does not associate there with any other birds, but is 

 one of the most abundant species. 



Mr. Stoltenhoff states that he found this bird breeding on Inaccessible Island, ou(! 

 of the Tristan d'Acunha grovip, where it is called the "Wood Pigeon." It arrives 

 about the middle of September, and nests about the middle of November, building a 

 nest of sticks, leaves, etc., in the branches of trees. One egg only is laid, and this is 

 hatched in January. It builds all over the island, which it leaves the third week in 

 April. 



It also breeds on Ascension Island — where it is not numerous — in company Avith 

 a few Gannets, on small rocky islets off the northwest corner of the main island. 



This species is also included by Mr. G. R. Gray in his List of the IJirds of Now 

 Zealand and of the Adjacent Islands. Mr. Edward Newton found it breeding on the 



