139 



ANOUS. NODDY. 



Generic Character. 



Rostrum capite longum, sub- 

 ulatum, subrectum, acu- 

 tum, compressiusculum ; 

 mandibula superiore paulo 

 inclinata. 



Nares lineares, basales. 



Alee mediocres. 



Cauda haud furcata. 



Pedes tetradactyli, debiles; 

 digito postico minuto, un- 

 gues parvae. 



Beak as long as the head, 

 subulated, nearly straight, 

 pointed, compressed ; the 

 upper mandible a little 

 inclined. 



Nostrils linear, basal. 



Whigs medial. 



Tail not forked. 



Legs four-toed, weak; the 

 hinder toe minute, the 

 claws small. 



ANOUS. Leach. MS. 

 STERNA. Linn., Gmel., Lath. 

 GAVIA. Briss. 

 PASSER. Rav. 



1 HE Noddies differ from the Terns and Viral ves by 

 having the tail nearly equal with the wings, and even 

 at the end : their beak also differs from that of either 

 of the above genera in its form, which approaches 

 somewhat to that of the beak of the Gulls. They 

 are said to be a very stupid race of birds, and to allow 

 themselves to be knocked on the head without at- 



