LARIDyE — TIIK GULLS AND TKUNrt - ANGUS. 



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Island of Rodriguez, near Mauritius. Mr. K. Swinlioe states tiiat in the harbor of 

 Sawo, on tlie northeast side of Formosa, a few of tliese Terns were found breeding 



(111 the (diffs. One individual Hew into his boat, and v. knoeked down by a sailor. 



Another was brought to liiui alive. In tlie voyage r iid tlie island he freciuently 

 noticed these birds crossing and reerossing his wake, as if searching for food in tlio 

 froulded waters stirred up l)y the steamer's paddh^s. Tiujy always ktipt a long 

 (iistance in the rear, and made no attemjit to come on board. 



This Tern was observed on tlie Pacific coast of Guatemala by Mr. Salvin. In ^lay, 

 IS.W, he also met with it near tlie Island of St. Jolin's; and presumt's that it jjiobably 

 occurs about St. Croix. On the coast of Honduras he visited its breeding-idace, 

 where it was nesting, in company with the J. mddiwiji'ui/s. Its nest was a large 

 loose structure made of sticks heajied together at the top of a coeoanut-tree, or on 

 llio outer brancdies of a mangrove. The bird was as tame as jiossilile, and was not at 

 all disturbed when Mr. Salviu climbed the tree on which it was nesting. The eggs 

 liad all been hatched. 



Mr. Grayson found it breeding on Isabella Island, on the north end of which, as 

 lie states, tliese birds were present in largi; communities, their nests being built upon 

 shelving rocks beneatli the overhanging cliffs, like those of the Mud-Swallow. In 

 one particular locality there were a great many of these birds, and when they were 

 fived at they cann; down in swiirni over tins canoe, circding around like Swallows. The 

 nests were all placed close together, and were inaccessible. 



A single individual of this species is stated by Alajor Wedderburn to have been 

 tiikcn in Bermuda, September, 1854. 



Audubon found the Noddies on one of the Tortugas, called Noddy Key. There 

 till y formed regular nests of twigs and dry grass, which they placed on low trees 

 or hushes, but in no instance on the ground. On the 11th of May, 1832, he found 

 111 repairing and augmenting old nests, while others were construct'iug new ones. 

 Some were already sitting on their eggs. Some of the nests were two feet in lieight: 

 yi't in all there was only a slight depression on the top. 



Audubon — disagreeing with most observers — states that the Noddy lays three 

 eggs ; Avhile others say that it never has more than one. He describes the eggs as of 

 a reddish-yellow color, spotted and patched with dull red and faint purple, and gives 

 their measurement as 2.00 inches in length and 1..37 in breadth — which is considerably 

 less than the average. They are said to be excellent eating. Tliis bird was observed 

 to go far out to sea to collect its food, which consisted of fish canglit on the floating 

 .seaweed by skimming close over the surface, in the manner of Gulls. When seized 

 by the hand it is said to utter a rough cawing cry, not unlike that of a young Crow. 



Jlr. Eichard Hill, of Jamaica, (pioted by ^Ir. Gosse, speaks of its breeding on the 

 I'edio Keys. The only vegetation is a low stunted kind of tree known as saiTron- 

 Wdod — the " tea-shrub " of the Hahama Islands. Among their branches, at a very 

 siiKiU elevation from the ground, the Noddies build nests which grow larger by aecu- 

 miilations of materials; these nests being repaired and used again in successive 

 seasons. They are exceedingly shallow, with scarcely any hollowing at all, and are 

 generally embellished with an addition of broken sea-shells — such being selected as 

 are spotted and speckled, like the eggs. The object of this curious feature in their 

 construction is not at all understood. 



Tlie eggs of this species have a white ground, Mith a well-marked creamy tinge, 

 and some have a distinctly cream-color, almost buffy. The spots are few and small, 

 and are chiefly about the larger end. In a few instances they are larger. The color 

 Is usually a dark chestiuit, with subdued shell-markings of lavender gray. 



