N O D D Y, A N D S O O T y T E R N. ^ 5^3 



LIII. TERN. Gm. Birds, LXXXVIL 



Calejhy, i. 88.— Le Noddi, De Bvffon, viii. 461— P/. EnL-6fi\. 4^6. NoDD'/v 



Sterna Stolida, Lin. Syjl. 227. — Lev. Mus. 



With a black long bill : crown white, gradually darkening to 

 the hind part : whole plumage brown : wings and tail almoft 

 duflcy. Weight four ounces. 



Inhabit, in vaft numbers, the Bahama Iflands, where they breed on Place. 



the bare rocks. In the breeding feafon they, and numbers of other 

 birds, are feen in great flights, flying near the furface of the water, 

 continually dropping on the fmall fifh which are driven to the top, 

 to fhun tiie perfecution of the greater^ The whole air refounds with 

 the noife of the. birds, who feem in full exultation on their fuccefs ; 

 which is expreffed in vaft variety of notes, A rippling and whitenefs 

 in the water marks the courfe of the fhoals of fifh ; and above them 

 the air is animated with their feathered enemies. Where the ftrong- 

 eft rippling is, there appear the thickeft fwarms of fowls. As foon 

 as the time of nutrition is over, thefe birds difperfe over the ocean 

 feparately ; and are feen at the diftance of hundreds of leagues from 

 fend ; but very feldom on the outfide of the tropics. Thei/ ftupi- 

 dity is notorious ; for they will fufFer themfelves to be taken by the 

 hand, when they fettle, as they often do, on the yards of fliips. 



^T^ With a black bill, two inches long : forehead white : crown, 447, Sooty^ 



' hind part of the head and negk, back, and wings, of a iboty 

 blackhefs : cheeks, fore part of the neck, breaft, belly, and ridge of 

 the wings, white : tail greatly forked ; tip of the exterior feathers 

 white; the reft of the tail duflcy. Nearly the Size of the Common 

 Gull. 



Sent from New York to Sir Afiton Lever. Thefe birds are found Placsj ; 



in very remote climates. They fwarm- in the i^tof Jfcenjion, 8 fouth 

 latitude. Emit a moft fliarp and fhrlll cry : are quite fearlcfs ; and 



3X2 fly. - 



