784 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Mexico and the central region; Atlantic down to Tristan da Cunha (breeding); intertropical African 
and Asian seas up to Yeddo; islands of the Pacific up to Laysan, etc., and as far as Sala y Gomez, 105° 
W.; also Chatham I., Galapagos (fide Ridgway), but not on coasts of Peru or Chile. Breeding, as a 
rule, where found. Once obtained off the south coast of Ireland.” (L. c., p. 140.) 
Micranous hawaiiensis. Hawaiian tern; Noio. 
Micranous hawaiiensis Rothschild, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, No. x, July, 1893, p. xvn. 
This handsome little tern is one of the most characteristic birds of Laysan, where it nests im 
considerable numbers, ranking perhaps third in relative abundance among the terns. Saving the 
noddy, it is the only one which builds any nest worthy of the name, and hence is remarkable for this 
reason alone. The birds live in small communities, scattered over the island, either near the sea or 
in the interior. I found nests in two different kinds of bushes, and they were placed anywhere from 
18 inches to'3 feet up, according to the desirability of location. They are constructed of twigs, usually 
morning-glory stems and leaves, and are from 10 to 12 inches in diameter. Usually the nests are 
built flat on top of the bushes, or sometimes below in a crotch. There is scarcely any hollow, and 
occasionally a few feathers enter into the lining of dried leaves. The nests are in a large number of 
cases completely plastered over with droppings, and are used year after year. (Figs. 9, 10, 11.) 
The single egg is laid early in May, although from perfectly fledged birds, which were common, 
I should judge these eggs to belong to the second setting of the year. All were more or less advanced 
in incubation. They present some variation in size and hue. The ground color is either nearly pure 
white, creamy white, cream buff, pale buff, or even light vinaceous buff. Sometimes the egg is heavily 
blotched and streaked with chestnut at the large end, with only pale, partially obscured, markings 
elsewhere. Again, these blotches and smaller spots are scattered over the egg. In another type the 
deep burnt umber maculations are in small spots and irregular lines from 3 to 8 millimeters long, with 
•many nearly obscured larger spots all over the egg. No two eggs are alike in color, and it is impossible 
to define any special type, unless it be the pale-buff ground tint, with scattered deep-brown blotches 
and streaks. The pale-brownish ground color is quite characteristic, though some eggs are almost pure 
white. The prevalent shape is ovate, sometimes very blunt. A large egg measures 47 by 33, a smaller 
specimen 43 by 30 millimeters. 
This little tern is quite unsuspicious and allowed us to approach closely. When disturbed from 
its egg the noio flies about in circles as if in doubt, and finally settles on the edge of its nest, as shown in 
fig. 10. Numbers of them habitually sit in company on the tops of bushes facing the wind, some 
flying off occasionally and others joining the group. Their only occupation during these assemblies 
seems to be preening their feathers. Very few were seen at sea during the day, so that they must fish 
considerably after nightfall. 
Speaking of this tern about Hawaii, Mr. H. W. Henshaw writes: a 
“The noio lives wholly upon fish, to obtain which it habitually makes excursions offshore 10 or 
15 miles. Indeed, comparatively little of its food is obtained inshore, though occasionally they may 
be seen slowly winnowing their way along the surf-streaked coast and scanning the heaving billows 
with anxious eye for their quarry. 
“ While following its prey on the broad ocean the noio is of much service to the Hawaiian fisher- 
men, and acts as his pilot; for its presence in numbers in a given spot marks the whereabouts of shoals 
of noi, a long silvery minnow, and there also is sure to be found the aku, or skipjack, much sought 
after by the fishermen. This tern never dives for fish, but with a quick stoop and a dip of the head it 
seizes the unsuspecting minnow when close to the surface. 
“In the olden time I learn that the natives used to raid the nesting sites of the noio pretty 
regularly for both eggs and young, the latter especially being esteemed delicacies, as indeed were the 
young of most sea birds. For this purpose dark nights .were usually chosen, and by means of torches 
and the help of clubs the old birds, bewildered by the light, were easily secured.” 
Henry Palmer found this tern on Lisiansky and Midway. 6 We did not see any at French Frigate 
Shoals, but observed a number on Necker, without discovering any nests. We also saw them at 
Bird Island in August. The species is not uncommon in the Hawaiian group proper, and is recorded 
from Hawaii, Molokai, Oahu, Niihau, and Kauai. As a wanderer it is found likewise on the other 
islands. So far as our knowledge goes at present it does not breed outside this region. 
Birds of the Hawaiian Islands, etc., 1902, p. 125. 
b Rothsehjld, Avifauna of Laysan, etc., p. 43. 
