365 BIRDS. 
de mer a aigrettes, St. inca, Less. and Garn., from the coast of 
Peru, Voy. de la Cogq., Zool. pl. 47, which is black; red bill and 
feet; a band on the cheek, and the feathers of the ear pendent and 
white *. 
We may also distinguish from the other Terns, 
Tue Noppiegs, 
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.; Noddi noir, Enl. 997, (The Noddy), which is 
a blackish brown, top of the head whitish. Celebrated amongst 
navigators for the blundering manner in which it throws itself on 
vessels . 
Ruyncuoprs, Lin. 
The Skimmers, or Scissor Bills, resemble the Terns in their small feet, 
long wings and forked tail, but are not distinguished from all birds by 
their extraordinary bill, the upper mandible of which is shorter than the 
other, both being flattened so as to form simple blades, which meet with- 
out 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, 
Rhym. nigra, L., Enl. 357, (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. It inhabits the seas near the Antilles }. 
Stet aioe 
FAMILY III. 
=~ 
THE TOPIPALMATA. 
This family is characterized by a remarkable peculiarity, that of 
having their thumb united with the other toes by means of a single mem- 
brane, and yet, despite this organization, which renders their feet most 
perfect oars—the only birds amongst the Palmipedes possessing the pecu- 
® Add of Europ. Spec.: St. Dougalit, Montag.; Vieill., Gal. 290 ;—S¢é. anglica, Id., 
or aranea, Wils. VIII, lxxii, 6;—St. arctica, Tem.;—St. leucopareia, Natter.;—St. 
leucoptera, Tem., Schinz. Ois. de Suisse, frontisp. 
Of spec. foreign to Europe: St. cayana, Enl. 998;—St. melanauchen, Tem. Col. 427; 
— St. melanogaster, Id, Col. 484;—St. fuliginosa, Wils. 
+ The St. phillippensis, (Sonner. Voy. I, pl. 1xxxv), does not appear to differ from 
the stolida;—the St. fuscata, Lath., Briss., VI, pl. xxi, 1, also seems to belong to this 
subgenus, as well as the St. tenuirostris, T. Col. 202. 
Ss} Add Rhyn. flavirostris, Vieill. Gal. 291;—Rh. cinerascens, Spix, CI1;—R. brevi- 
rostris, Id. CITT. 
