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THE BIRDS OF AUSTEALIA 



They lay on the ground with practically no nest, usually on 

 ledges of cliffs. Only one egg is laid. It is cream colour, 

 sparingly marked with spots and lines of yellowish and reddish- 

 brown, the under markings of pale purple and faint. They 

 measure about 1.65 x 1.28 inch. 



Noddy Terns: Anous stoUdus. Houtman's Abrolhos, W.A. 



The Noddy Tern. 



Anous stolidus. 



Tropical and juxta-tropical seas. 



Forehead nearly white at base of bill, passing on crown into grey, 

 which darkens on the neck to lead-colour, lores black, upper parts dark 

 brown; primaries and tail-feathers black; underparts dark brown passing 

 to lead colour on throat. Total length about 16 inches, culmen 2.1, wing 

 10.25 to 11, tail 6 to 7, tarsus 1. 



They nest in large companies, either on low bushes or the 

 ground, the nest being composed of seaweed or land vegetation. 



