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GENUS ANOUS (Leach). 

 A NO US MELANOPS (Gould). 



LESSER NODDY. Genus: Anous. 



PRODIGIOUS numbers of this bird and an allied species (A. Stolidus) frequent the Houtman's 

 Abrolhos, off the coast of Western Australia. 



This Noddy is of gregarious habits, and towards the close of the day, when the old birds 

 are returning from the ocean, their breeding places present an extraordinary spectacle to the visitor, 

 there being, according to Gilbert, amazing clouds, literally speaking, of these birds around the clumps 

 of mangrove on which their nests are made ; and usually silent when upon the water, the croaking 

 noise made by the old birds and the quack and peculiar piping whistle of the young ones at this 

 time are simply deafening. 



The nests are constructed in a very expeditious and rough manner by simply laying masses 

 of seaweed on the thickly -growing topmost branches of the mangroves, at from live to ten feet 

 from the ground. The layer of seaweed is from about two to four inches in thickness, and no attempt 

 is made by the birds to give any shape to it, a small depression on the top to keep the egg in 

 its place being regarded as sufficient preparation for the process of incubation. The nests of this 

 species are, however, placed at a greater height on the branches than those of the A. Stolidus 

 (Noddy Torn), with which species this one dwells and incubates in the greatest harmony; and 

 doubtless it is this fact that ensures the prevalence of the vast numbers of the Lesser Noddy over 

 its congeners, for the nests of the latter, being placed lower down and sometimes actually upon the 

 ground, are preyed upon by a small lizard which devours thousands of the eggs as well as the 

 young birds. The strong and unpleasant odour of these breeding places is perceptible to a great 

 distance, and the nests, leaves and branches of the trees are completely covered with the white 

 excrement of the birds, giving the appearance of a heavy foil of snow. At this particular place 

 (the South Island of Houtman's Abrolhos) the distance from the breeding place to the feeding ground 

 on the outer reef is four miles, and Gilbert states that over this space the numbers of birds con- 

 tinuously passing were in such close array that they formed one steady and unbroken line, and even 

 those who have seen the vast flights of the Passenger Pigeon, so vividly described by Audubon, would 

 be amazed at the extraordinary spectacle presented on this island. 



The egg is of a dull cream colour, marked all over with blotches of dull red and brown, 

 the latter appearing to show from the inside surface of the shell. These blotches are most numerous 

 at the larger end. The egg is one inch and three-quarters long by one inch and a quarter broad. 



The sexes show no outward difference. 



Crown of the head and back of the neck, pale ash colour, changing into dark grey towards the 

 back ; before and behind the eye, a margin of jet black ; posterior half of the lower lash, pure white ; 

 throat, fore part of the neck and all the under surface dark grey ; wings and tail, very dark brown, 

 approaching to black ; bill, black. 



