THE BLACK TEftN. 31? 



Striated tern Noddy. 



The lesser tern weighs only two ounces five 

 grains. The bill is yellow, and from the eyes to 

 the bill is a black line. In other respects it 

 almost exactly resembles the preceding. 



THE BLACK TERN. 



THIS is of a middle size between the two pre- 

 ceding species. It weighs two ounces and a half, 

 It receives its name from being all black as far 

 as the vent, except a spot white under the throat. 

 This bird is called in some parts the ear swallow, 

 It is a very noisy animal. 



Among the foreign birds of the tern genus, 

 there are some found of a snowy white ; but the 

 most singular bird of the kind is the striated tern, 

 which is found at New Zealand. It is thirteen 

 inches in length. The bill is black, and the 

 body in general mottled, or rather striped with 

 black and white. The noddy is about fifteen 

 inches long, and the whole plumage a sooty 

 brown, except the top of the head, which is 

 white. It is a very common bird in the tropical 

 seas, where it is known frequently to fly on 

 board ships, and is taken with the hand. But 

 though it be thus stupid, it bites the fingers se- 

 verely, so as to make it unsafe to hold it. It Is 

 aid to breed in the Bahama islands. 





