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STERNID.E. 
The adult Black Noddy measures fifteen inches in length; 
the beak from the forehead one inch and three quarters ; the 
wing from the carpus to the tip ten inches ; the tarsus nearly 
one inch, and the tail five inches. 
The plumage is as follows :—the forehead is white; the 
top of the head pearl grey, and the nape ash colour ; these 
three colours gradually melting together; the neck and 
shoulders are black, with a grey bloom ; the rest of the upper 
feathering chocolate brown ; the tail is rounded at its ex¬ 
tremity, the middle feathers being the longest; the eye 
dusky ; the beak black ; the legs and feet black ; the toes 
united by an entire web. 
