284 
THE NODDY TERN. 
the nest. On such occasions, it does not disgorge its food, like the Cayenne 
Tern and other species, although it bites severely, with quickly repeated 
movements of the bill, which, on missing the object aimed at, snaps like 
that of our larger Fly-catchers. Some which I kept several days, refused 
all kinds of food, became dull and languid, and at length died. 
Sterna stolida, Bonap. Syn., p. 356. 
Noddy, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 285. 
Noddy Tern, Sterna stolida , Aud. ,Orn. Biog., vol. iii. p. 516 ; vol. v. p. 642. 
Male, 16 T 2, 32. 
Abundant on the Gulf of Mexico during the whole year. Breeds in vast 
multitudes on the Tortugas Keys. 
Adult Male. 
Bill longer than the head, strong, slender, nearly straight, compressed, 
very acute. Upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly arched, the ridge 
broad and convex at the base, narrowed towards the end, the sides convex, 
the edges sharp and inflected, the tip acute. Nasal groove extended to 
beyond half the length of the bill, slightly deflected towards the edge ; 
nostrils submedial, linear, direct, pervious. Lower'mandible with the angle 
very narrow, acute, extending to the middle, the dorsal line straight or very 
slightly concave, the sides convex, the sharp edges inflected, the tip ex- 
tremely acute. 
Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed ; neck of moderate length ; 
body slender ; feet very short, rather stout. Tibia bare for a short space ; 
tarsus very short, roundish, covered anteriorly with small scutella, laterally 
and behind with reticulated scales ; toes slender, the first very small, the 
third longest, the fourth nearly as long, the second much shorter, all scu- 
tellate above, the anterior united by reticulated webs, having an incurved 
margin ; claws curved, compressed, acute, that of hind toe smallest, of mid- 
dle toe by much the largest, and having the inner edge thin and dilated. 
Plumage soft, close, blended, very short on the head ; the feathers in 
general broad and rounded. Wings very long, narrow, and pointed ; pri- 
mary quills tapering but rounded, the first longest, the rest rapidly gradu- 
ated ; secondaries short, broad, rather acute, the inner more tapering. Tail 
long, cuneate, of twelve tapering rounded feathers. 
Bill black. Iris brown. Feet dull brownish-red, the webs dusky, the 
claws black. The general colour is sooty brown ; the primaries and tail- 
feathers brownish-black ; the upper part of the head greyish-white ; a black 
spot anterior to and over the eye. 
Length to end of tail 16 T V, to end of wings 16 T V, to end of claws 13ff; 
