322 
LARINtE. larus. 
* Tail graduated. 
440. 12. Sterna stolida, Linn. Noddy Tern. 
Plate CCLXXV. Male. 
Bill a little longer than the head, rather slender, a little decurved, 
black ; tail cuneate ; general colour of plumage sooty-brown ; prima- 
ries and tail-feathers brownish-black; upper part of head greyish- 
white ; a black spot anterior to and over the eye. 
Male, 16i%, 32. 
Abundant on the Gulf of Mexico during the whole year. Breeds 
in vast multitudes on the Tortugas Keys. 
sterna stolida, Bo nap. Syn. p. 356. 
Noddy, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 285. 
Noddy Tern, Sterna stolida, Aun. Orn. Biog. v, iii. p. 516 ; v. p, 642. 
GENUS III. LARUS, Linn. GULL. 
Bill shorter than the head, nearly straight, moderately 
stout, compressed ; upper mandible with its dorsal outline 
straight to the middle, then decurved, the ridge convex, the 
sides rapidly sloping, the edges sharp and direct, the tip 
rather obtuse ; nasal groove rather long and narrow ; nos- 
trils submedial, longitudinal, linear-oblong, broader ante- 
riorly ; lower mandible, with the angle long and pointed, 
the outline of its crura decurved anteriorly, that of the ridge 
slightly concave and ascending, the sides erect, the edge- 
line decurved toward the tip, which is narrow but obtuse. 
Head of moderate size, broadly ovate ; neck of ordinary 
length; body compact. Feet rather long or of moderate 
length, rather stout ; tibia bare at the lower part ; tarsus 
moderately compressed, with numerous curved anterior scu- 
tella, and smaller behind ; toes slender, of moderate length, 
scutellate ; first very small, third a little longer than fourth. 
Claws small, slightly arched, compressed, rather blunt. 
Plumage close, soft, blended, on the back and wings rather 
compact. Wings very long, pointed ; first and second quills 
longest ; secondaries broad, the inner more elongated. Tail 
of moderate length, generally even, rarely rounded or emar- 
