TERN. 35 j 



laying the eggs on the bare rocks : on the Roca IJlands, and va- 

 rious parts of the coafi: of Brajil, and Cayenne. Frequently flies 

 on board the fhips, and may be taken with the hand ; but though 

 feemingly thus ftupid, will often bite the fingers feverely with 

 the bill, and fcratch with the claws, fo as to make it unfafe to 

 hold by a tender fkin. When flying about in flocks, and parti- 

 cularly in breeding-time, are very noify. We are told alfo that 

 they lay their eggs in vaft numbers on certain fmall rocky ifles 

 near St. Helena ; and that the eggs are good to eat. Some 

 voyagers affirm that the fight of this bird at fea fhews the mari- 

 ner the vicinity of land ; but others aver the contrary*. From 

 their ftupidity they are called by the failors Noddy. At Otaheite 

 known by the name of Oiyo. 



S 



7- 

 I Z E of the Noddy : length fifteen inches. Bill nearly three SIMPLE T. 



inches in length, flout, and of a reddifh colour : crown of Description. 



the head nearly white : the upper parts of the neck and back 



pale lead-colour ; the under white : behind each eye a fpot of 



black : the lefler wing coverts, fcapulars, and tail, like the back : 



the middle and greater coverts white ; but fome of the laft have 



the outer margins brown: quills black: tail but little forked, 



and the wings much exceed it in length : the legs are red. 



This was defcribed from a fpecimen which came from Place. 



Cayenne. "* 



• Cook's Voj. i. p. 275 — Catejb. Gar. p. 88.— This laft author has met with 

 them above one hundred leagues from land. 



Zz 2 LENGTH 



