|.) AVIFAUNA OF LAYS AN. 



neck. Quills and tail-feathers brownish black. Bill black ; feet blackish brown ; claws 

 blackish brown ; iris dark brown. Sexes similar. 



The youno. bird has the top of the head the same colour as the back; and this is proved to 

 be true by a specimen in my collection. According to Palmer's observations the young, when 

 hatched, is of a light grey colour, which soon changes into a dark brown down. 



Specimens from Laysan and French Frigate Island have the following measurements :- 

 wing 10-75 to 11-15 inches, tail 6*4 to 6 6, culmen 165 to P75, tarsus 1. 



The eggs are well known. They differ from the eggs of the true Terns in being less 

 sprinkled and blotched, but rather sparsely covered with roundish spots of a dark brown, and 

 underlying spots of a pale purplish grey ; they are not much pointed. Specimens from French 

 Frigate Island measure 213 by P3!, 2'13 by 146, and 22 by 15 inches, and vary but 

 little. Their ground-colour is white, with a taint bulfy tinge. Prom the eggs of Kaliplana 

 fuliginosa (Gm.) they arc also distinguishable by being darker and more green inside by 

 transparent light. 



The Noddy makes its nest on the ground, and mostly under the tussocks of grass and 

 scrub ; but Palmer has found a few on some of the low scrub on Laysan Island. It lays one 

 egg, and is very fearless, boldly attacking the Albatrosses which disturb them. 



It was met with plentifully on French Frigate and Laysan Islands. 



(The Plate representing this species and A. melanogenys was only added to help readers 

 to appreciate the distinguishing characters between these two species and A. liawaiiensis.) 



