ae CORNELL LAB of ORNITHOLOGY LIBRARY AT SAPSUCKER WOODS Illustration of Snowy Owl by Louis Agassiz Fuertes J imi DATE DUE BOB-WHITE HANDBOOK OF BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA WITH KEYS TO THE SPECIES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THEIR PLUMAGES, NESTS, AND EGGS THEIR DISTRIBUTION AND MIGRATIONS AND A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THEIR HAUNTS AND HABITS WITH INTRODUCTORY CHAPTERS ON THE STUDY OF ORNITHOLOGY, HOW TO IDENTIFY BIRDS AND HOW TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE BIRDS THEIR NESTS, AND EGGS BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN ASSISTANT CURATOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MAMMALOGY AND ORNITHOLOGY IN THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, NEW YORK CITY ; MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION, ETC. WITH FULL-PAGE PLATES IN COLORS AND BLACK AND WHITE AND UPWARD OF ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY CUTS IN THE TEXT SIXTH EDITION NEW YORK D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 1901 OR NIT Se CF | CY 6% 10 | CoryRicHt, 1895, By D. APPLETON AND COMPANY. TO MY MOTHER WHO HAS EVER ENCOURAGED HER SON IN HIS NATURAL HISTORY STUDIES THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED PREFACE. Ir this book had been written in the last century it might have been entitled “Ornithology made Simple, or How to Identify Birds with Ease, Certainty, and Dispatch.” It may be unworthy so com- prehensive a title, nevertheless I have made an honest endeavor to write a book on birds so free from technicalities that it would be in- telligible without reference to a glossary, and I have tried to do this in a volume which could be taken afield in the pocket. I have not addressed an imaginary audience, nor have I given my prospective readers what, theoretically, I thought they ought to have, but what personal experience with students of birds has led me to believe would meet their wants. The preparation of this work has firmly convinced me that the poet would have been nearer the truth had he written “One touch of nature makes the whole world kind.” In the succeeding pages I have attempted to express my appreciation of the assistance which natural- -ist friends and associates have generously given me, but here I desire to especially thank Miss Florence A. Merriam, Dr. J. A. Allen, and Mr. Ernest E. Thompson for much valuable criticism and advice. Frank M. Cuapman. AMERICAN Museum or Natura History, New York City, January, 1895. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION Carrer I.—TuE Stupy or OrniTHouoey. Systematic Ornithology. Philosophie Ornithology Economic Ornithology . Sentiment of Ornithology Cuaprer I].—Tue Srupy or Birps Ovut-or-Doors . How to Identify Birds . How to Find Birds When to Find Birds Tables of Migration The Nesting Season Note-books and Journals Cuaprer III.—Cot.ectine Brrps, THEIR Nests, AND Ecos PLAN List eF ABBREVIATIONS . Collecting Birds Making Birdskins. Sexing Birds . Cataloguing and Thabeline Care of a Collection : Collecting and Preserving Nests aiid Eggs . oF THE Work. : Nomenclature adopted . Definition of Terms The Key to Families The Keys to Species Measurements Range Biographies Illustrations Color Chart vii viii CONTENTS. PAGE THE BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA EAST OF THE NINE- TIETH MERIDIAN . : ‘ : ‘i ; és . 4 Key To ORDERS AND FamILigs . ‘ . é s , 6 Al: I, Ornper Pycoropss: Diving Birds . : ; : . 56 1. Family Podicipide: Grebes ‘ ; s j . 56 2. Family Urinatoride: Loons 3 ‘ . 58 3. Family Alcide: Auks, Murres, and Puffins ‘ . 60 II. Orper Loneirennes: Lone-winceD SWIMMERS. . 65 4, Family Stercorariidew : Skuas and Jaegers . ‘ . 65 5. Family Laride: Gulls and Terns é : ’ . 67 6. Rynchopide: Skimmers . ‘ A ‘ ‘ . 83 III. Orper Tupinares: TUBE-NosED SWIMMERS . z . 86 7. Family Diomedeide: Albatrosses . 86 8. Procellariide: Petrels, Fulmars, and Shenmewdters . 86 IV. OrpeR StTeGANopopES: ToTIPALMATE SWIMMERS . . Of 9. Family Phaéthontide: Tropic Birds. 5 a . 91 10. Family Sulide: Gannets . : 3 , . 92 11. Family Anhingide: Darters . j ; . 93 12. Family Phalacrocoracide: Cormorants . ; . 94 13. Family Pelecanide: Pelicans . 7 ; 95 14, Family Fregatide: Man-o’-War Birds. ‘ OF V. ORDER ANSERES: LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS F . 97 15, Family Anatide: Ducks, Geese, and Swans. . 97 VI. OrpER OpontoeLoss#: LAMELLIROSTRAL GRALLATORES . 125 16. Family Pheenicopteride: Flamingoes . . . 125 VII. Ornprx Heroptones: Herons, STorks, [pises, ETC. . . 125 17, Family Plataleide: Spoonbills . 5 ‘A : » 125 18. Family Ibidide: Ibises . i » 126 19. Family Ciconiide: Storks and Wood iiss: a . 127 20. Family Ardeide: Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns . 128 VIII. Orper PatupicoLa: Cranes, RaIzs, ETC. 3 “ . 137 21. Family Gruide: Cranes . : : ; 5 . 137 22. Family Aramide: Courlans. . . 138 23. Family Rallide: Rails, Gallinules, siial Coots e . 189 IX. Orper Lrricopa: Saore Birps : ‘ . 147 24, Family Phalaropodide : Phalaopes , : . 147 25. Family Recurvirostride: Stilts and Avocets . . 149 26. Family Scolopacidaw: Snipes, Sandpipers, ete. . » 150 XI. XII. XII. XIV. XV. XVI. XVII. CONTENTS. QT Family Charadriide: Plovers 28. Family Aphrizide: Turnstones, etc. . . 29. Family Hematopodide: Oyster-catchers . . ORDER GALLINZ: GALLINACEOUS Birps . 80. Family Tetraonide: Grouse, Bob-whites, etc. . 31. Family Phasianide : Pheasants, etc.. ORDER CoLuMBa&: PIGEONS AND Doves 32. Family Columbide: Pigeons and Doves . OrprER Raprores: Brrps or Prey . - 33. Family Cathartide: American Vultures . 34. Family Falconidw: Falcons, Hawks, Eagles, ete. 35. Family Strigide: Barn Owls . : : 36. Family Bubonide: Horned Owls, Hoot Owls ‘ OrvER Psirtaci: Parrots, Macaws, ParogueEts, ETC. 37. Family Psittacidae: Parrots and Paroquets ORDER CoccyeEs: Cuckoos, KINGFISHERS, ETC. 38. Family Cuculide: Cuckoos 39. Family Alcedinide: Kingfishers OrpeER Pict: WoopPECKERS, WRYNECKS, ETC. . 40. Family Picide: Woodpeckers . Swirts, ETC. 41, Family Coprimulgide Nighthawks, Whip: poor- ; . 236 . 239 - 240 » 242 . 242 » 252 « 253 » 259 - 260 - 271 - 316 . 818 . 823 « 825 . 827 » 833 wills, ete. is 42. Family Micsopodidie: " Swifts 48, Family Trochilide: Hummingbirds . Orper Passeres: Percuine Birps . 44, Family Tyrannide: Flycatchers 45. Family Alaudide: Larks . 46. Family Corvide: Crows and Jays 47, Family Sturnide: Starlings 7 48. Family Icteride: Blackbirds, Orioles, ala 49, Family Fringillide: Finches, Sparrows, etc. 50. Family Tanagride: Tanagers . . 51. Family Hirundinide: Swallows 52. Family Ampelide: Waxwings . 53. Family Laniide: Shrikes . 54. Family Vireonidew: Vireos . a 55. Family Mniotiltide : Wood Warblers ix PAGE ~171 . 176 ~177 . 178 . 178 185 . 187 . 187 . 191 . 191 » 193 . 218 . 213 » 222 » 222 » 224 + 224 . 226 + 227 » 227 OxpeR MacrocHires: GoatTsucKers, HumMinasirDs, . 226 List oF PrinctpAL WORKS REFERRED TO INDEX 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. AppenDIx: A Field Key to our Commoner Eastern Land Birds Family Motacillide : Wagtails and Pipits 4. Family Troglodytidz: Thrashers, Wrens, etc. . Family Certhiide: Creepers Family Paride: Nuthatches and Titmnise, Family Sylviide: Kinglets and Gnatcatchers . Family Turdide: Thrushes, Bluebirds, etc. CONTENTS. PAGE . 875 . 376 . 885 . 386 . 891 . 394 . 404 . 411 . 415 Bos- WHITE LiST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. FULL-PAGE PLATES. TO FACE PAGE Coton CHART PIED-BILLED GREBE AND Youve Heaps oF Ducks Litrte Bive Herons CLAPPER RaIL . Woopcock anp Youna SPOTTED SANDPIPER AND YOUNG RuFFED GROUSE AND YouNG . Sparrow Hawk anp Youne . Harry WooppPrEcKER; YELLOW-BELLIED ‘Sipstenns ‘WHIP-POOR-WILL 3 LEAST FLYCATCHER ; Pauwe BopoLink . MEADOWLARK WHITE-THROATED Saimnaws Wutre- CROWNED ; Serenew Sone Sparrow; Swamp Suinnay ‘ YELLOW-THROATED VIREO; WARBLING ike. LovistaNaA WATER-THRUSH Woop THrusH; WI.son’s THRUSH. FIGURES IN THE TEXT. FIGURE DBAIDOARwWWDH . A completed birdskin : f . oe: te . . Topography of a bird ; . (a) Spotted, (6) streaked, (c) bares, @ matgined feathers . Rule showing inches and tenths . g . . Feet of (a) Pied-billed Grebe, (5) Loon, ©) Puffin . (a) Bill of Parasitic Jaeger ; me bill and foot of et Gull . Bill of Common Tern F ‘ . Bill of Skimmer xi . Frontispiece. 39 57 97 . 135 . 140 . 153 . 169 . 181 . 211 » 229 . 237 « 245 « 262 » 265 . 800 . 806 . 330 . 368 . 395 PAGE 28 33 34 37 41 41 42 42 xii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. FIGURE PAGE 9. (a) Bill and foot of Black-footed Albatross ; 0 bill and foot of Fulmar . 9 42 10. Foot of Cormorant . i ‘ ‘ i - 5 . 43 11. Bill of Yellow-billed Tropic Bird ‘ ‘ ‘ “ : . 43 12. Bill of Gannet . 3 a . . ss 7 4 : . 43 18. Bill of Anhinga. 3 J é : : : : F . 43 14, Bill of Cormorant . a ‘ zi F é . 43 15. Bill of Man-o’-War Biel. ‘ ay Bie 3 . : . 43 16. Billof Merganser . ‘ . 44 17. (a) Bill and foot of Mallard; 6 ter of Ganvashask , . 44 18. Bill of Flamingo 7 ‘ : a é - 45 19. Bill and toe-nail of Little Gueea deton A 3 : ‘5 . 45 20. Bill of White Ibis . ‘ . é 2 . : : . 45 21. Bill of Roseate Spoonbill. .. 45 22. (a) Bill and foot of Clapper Rail: hitis of () Yellow Rail, (c) Sora, (d) Florida Gallinule; (e) bill and foot of Coot . 46 23. Bill of Sandhill Crane. ‘ . ‘ . 46 24, Bill of Limpkin. . 46 25. Bills of (a) Dowitcher, ® not ©) Bleck: eiliea Plover, (2d) Semipalmated Plover. 47 26. Feet of (2) Red Phalarope, (0) Khe, (e) Dawitcian, oR Black- bellied Plover, (e) ile caries Plover . . . 47 27. Bill of Ruffed Grouse ‘ 5 : . . . 48 28. Bill of Wild Pigeon . ‘ : . 48 29. Feet of (a) Barred Owl, (8) Rea diacldsred Hewk:. é . 48 30. Head of Barn Owl . : 7 : . : . 48 81. Head of Barred Owl . . ‘ ‘ . ; - ‘ . 48 82. Head of Turkey Vulture . ‘ ; ‘ : . : . 49 33. Head of Red-shouldered Hawk F , : ‘4 F . 49 84. Bill and foot of Carolina Paroquet . eas : 3 . 49 35. Bill and foot of Belted Kingfisher . : soe : . 49 36. Bill and foot of Yellow-billed Cuckoo . ; 49 37. (a) Bill and foot of Hairy cde aaa (6) foot ‘of ‘Avelie Three-toed Woodpecker ‘ é , * . 50 38. Bill and foot of Nighthawk . . ‘ : ‘ - 50 389. Bill and tail-feather of Chimney Swift é ‘ , ‘ . 50 40. Bill of Hummingbird - ‘ : ; ‘ & 5 . 50 41. Foot of Robin . , ; e , . ri : : » 51 42. Bill and wing of Phebe . , . : ‘ i ‘ » 51 43. Bill and hind-toe of Horned Lark . : . . - 51 44, (a) Bill and wing of Blue Jay, (8) bill of Caw : 3 . 51 45, Bill and wing of Starling . é : 3 s . . 52 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. xill FIGURE PAGE 46. (a) Bill and wing of Baltimore Oriole; bills of (6) Meadow- lark, (c) Purple Grackle : 52 47, Bills of (a) Cardinal, (b) Pine Grosbeak: () Parnlé Finch, (d) Red Crossbill, (¢) Seaside Finch, ( fi ) Goldfinch 52 48. Bill of Scarlet Tanager : 52 49. Bill and foot of Cliff Swallow . 53 50. Head of Cedar Waxwing . 53 51. Bill of Loggerhead Shrike 53 52. Bill of Blue-headed Vireo 53 53. (a) Bill of Tennessee Warbler; (d) bill wing: | iid fee of Pine Warbler; bills of (c) Redstart, ae Water-Thrush ; (e) Chat . : . 53 54. Bill and hind-toe of Ameri ican Pipit . 54 55. (a) Bill of Brown Thrasher, (6) bill and wing of Cathind bills of (c) Carolina Wren, (d) House Wren. . 54 56. Bill and tail of Brown Creeper . 54 57. (a) Bill of White-breasted Nuthatch, 6) bill and wing of Chickadee . 65 58. (a) Bill and wing of Gdiden-cowned ingles, ® bill of Blue Gray Gnatcatcher . “ 55 59. (a) Bill of Robin, (0) bill and ind of Bluebird 55 60. First primaries of (2) American Herring Gull, (6) Ring- -billed Gull, (¢) Laughing Gull, (d) Franklin’s Gull, (e) Bona- parte’s Gull . . 69 61. First primaries of (a) Chapian Tem, (2) oval ‘Tem, (c) ‘Obi. mon Tern, (d) Arctic Tern, (e) Royal Tern . 78 62. Head of Least Sandpiper . - 160 63. Head of Red-backed Sandpiper . 161 64, Wing of Solitary Sandpiper . 166 65. Head of Semipalmated Plover . . 174 66. Head of Wilson’s Plover . . 176 67. Tail of Sharp-shinned Hawk . 198 68. Tail of Cooper’s Hawk . 199 69. Primaries of Red-shouldered Hawk. . 202 70. Primaries of Broad-winged Hawk . 204 71. Foot of Golden Eagle - 206 72. Foot of Bald Eagle . ‘ - 207 73. Tail-feathers of Yellow-billed Cuckoo » 225 74, Tail-feathers of Black-billed Cuckoo » 226 75, Head of Crested Flycatcher . 245 76. Head of Prairie Horned Lark . . 253 77. Head of Cowbird . : . 262 sty LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS, FIGURE PAGE 78. Head of Orchard Oriole . ‘ ; a é : ; . 267 79. Head of Purple Finch . : ‘ ‘ ‘ ; . . 281 80. Head of Redpoll j : ‘ : 2 ‘ ‘ . 285 81. Hind-toe of Lapland Longspur ‘ ‘ : AG . 289 82. Tail-feathers of Vesper Sparrow. . s : . 290 83. Tail of Grasshopper Sparrow. . . . ‘ : » 293 84, Head of Seaside Sparrow . - , : 4 : ‘ . 297 85. Head of Lark Sparrow. : ; . : ; ‘ . 299 86. Head of Chipping Sparrow. 3 ‘ F : ‘ . 802 87. Head of Fox Sparrow. : A ‘ : j z . 809 88. Head of Dickcissel . : ‘ a ; , . 315 89. Barn, Cliff, Tree, and Bank Siraillows . ‘ j ‘ . 318 90. Section of primary of Rough-winged Swallow : ‘ . 823 91. Head of Red-eyed Vireo . ‘ , ‘4 5 ‘ A . 328 92. Wing of Warbling Vireo . ‘ ; Beg 5 ; . 329 93. Head of Black and White Warbler . ‘ ‘a 3 * . 851 94, Head of Worm-eating Warbler : . ; ; ; . 851 95. Head of Blue-winged Warbler . : ; ‘ 5 : . 351 96. Head of Golden-winged Warbler . aa ss , - . 351 97. Head of Parula Warbler . ‘ : ‘ ‘ : : . 351 98. Head of Myrtle Warbler . a 7 7 i ‘ z . 851 99. Head of Magnolia Warbler. . : ‘ ‘ ; . 351 100. Head of Chestnut-sided Warbler. : ‘ ; . . 851 101. Black-throated Blue Warbler . ‘ ‘ 5 r ‘i . 854 102. Head of Black-poll Warbler . . : ‘ ‘ : . 866 103. Head of Prairie Warbler . : ; ; 3 é . 866 104. Head of Oven-bird . ‘ - . ‘ é ‘i . 366 105. Head of Kentucky Warbler. ‘ : ‘ é : . 366 106. Head of Maryland Yellow-throat . é ri ‘ . . 866 107. Head of Wilson’s Warbler ‘ : ‘ ; : : . 866 108. Head of Hooded Warbler. ‘ ‘ ‘ : . 5 . 866 109. Head of Canadian Warbler... weti Yti‘CS™SC*é«‘C*«CG 110. Head of Yellow-breasted Chat . : é ‘ ‘ ‘ . 872 111. Head of Short-billed Marsh Wren . ‘ ; ° : - 883 112. Head of Long-billed Marsh Wren . é é . 384 113. Head of Red-breasted Nuthatch . ‘i ° I . . 888 114, Head of Tufted Titmouse. . . . «. « « «889 115. Head of Golden-crowned Kinglet . a . ; . - 892 A HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. INTRODUCTION. CHAPTER I. THE STUDY OF ORNITHOLOGY. Birps, because of their beauty, the charm of their songs, and the ease with which they may be observed, are doubtless the forms of animal life which first attract the young naturalist’s attention. His interest in them gives evidence of an inborn love of Nature. Too often this priceless gift is lost simply through lack of encouragement and instruction. Properly developed it should prove a never-failing source of pleasure and inspiration, if indeed its influence does not become the most potent factor in our lives. Let us hope that the day is not distant when the importance of in- troducing natural-history studies into our schools will be generally recognized. The young student of Nature will then be helped over the repelling technicalities which render so difficult the first steps to a knowledge of his chosen subject. Without a guide he now either loses his way completely or travels under disadvantages which handi- cap him for the whole journey. The uninstructed beginner in ornithology usually expends his en- ergies in forming a collection, and he knows no better way of pursuing his study of birds than to kill and stuff them! Collecting specimens is a step in the scientific study of birds, but ornithology would have small claim to our consideration if its possibilities ended here. Prop- erly considered, it includes what may be termed the science of orni- thology and the sentiment of ornithology. As a science it treats of birds as the exponents of natural laws and seeks to determine their place in the scale of life. In the sentiment of ornithology Nature ap- peals to us through the most interesting and beautiful of her animate forms, 3 1 SYSTEMATIC ORNITHOLOGY. bo The Science of Ornithology.—The science of ornithology may be divided into three branches—systematic, philosophic, and economic. Thé systematist aims to classify birds according to what are appar- ently their true relationships. He is the ornithological storekeeper, and having taken an account of stock it is his duty to keep the books of the firm in order. The philosophic ornithologist accepts as a fact the statement of affairs given him by his fellow-worker the systemat-. ist, and tries to explain the wherefore and why. He is a seeker of causes. The economist is of a more practical turn of mind. He is impressed by the incalculable influence which birds exert over our agricultural interests, and the necessity for learning with exactness whether this influence is for good or evil. But let us describe these three departments of scientific ornithology more fully. Systematic Ornithology.—The first step in the scientific study of any group of animals is to name and classify them. Orders, families, genera, species, and subspecies are to be described and arranged in what appears to be the most natural manner. ‘Thus all the Perching Birds, for example, are placed in the order Passeres, and this order is divided into numerous families—for instance, the Thrushes or family Turdide. But how are we to know which are Perching Birds and which of the Perching Birds are Thrushes? The systematist answers, by studying a bird’s structure. Generally speaking, orders and fami- lies are based on skeletal, muscular, and visceral characters which may be termed internal characters. Genera are based on the form of bill, feet, wings, and tail, or on external characters. while species and sub- species are based mainly on color and size. Thus all the members of a family or order agree more or less in their principal internal charac- ters: those of a genus agree in external characters, and the individ- uals of a species or subspecies resemble one another in color and size. The object of classification is to aid us in understanding not alone the relationships of one bird to another bird, or of one family or order of birds to another family or order, or even of living to extinct birds, but also to assist us in explaining the relationships of all the classes of the animal and vegetable kingdoms—mammals, birds, rep- tiles, fishes—and thus down the scale to the lowest forms of life. This systematic study of the relationships of birds has taught us that they have been evolved from reptilian ancestors. There is much evidence in support of this fact, but the most conclusive is furnished by the discovery in the lithographic slate of Solenhofen, Bavaria, of several specimens of a remarkable fossil, a reptilelike bird, which has been named Archeopteryz lithographica, It is the earliest known direct progenitor of the great class Aves, PHILOSOPHIC ORNITHOLOGY. 3 The importance of systematic classification is also shown in the ne- cessity of naming objects before we can study them toadvantage. As the alphabet is the foundation of a written language, so this great series of scientific names, which appears so formidable to the student, is the groundwork for all ornithological research. Philosophie Ormithology.—Having learned the alphabet of orni- thology, we may pass from the systematic to the philosophic study of birds; from the study of dead birds to that of living ones. A study of specimens shows their relationships through structure, but a study of the living bird in its haunts may tell us the cause of structure. In classifying birds we have taken note of their form and coloration; our object now is to determine how these characters were acquired. ‘ As Prof. E. S. Morse has said, “There is no group of animals which exceeds birds in varied and suggestive material for the evolu- tionist.” Compare a Hummingbird with an Ostrich, a Swallow with a Penguin, and the enormous variation in the structure and habits of birds is brought very forcibly to our minds. When we remember that these widely divergent types descended from a reptilian ancestor, we are impressed anew with the truth of Prof. Morse’s remark, A brief review of the more important branches of philosophic ornithology will show how rich a field is open to the student of birds. They are: (1) The origin of birds and their place in Nature ; * (2) their distribution in time and space, and the influences which determine their present ranges; + (8) the migration of birds, its origin. object, ex- tent, and manner; { (4) the nesting of birds, including a study of the significance of sexual differences in form, color, and voice, the location and construction of the nest, the number and color of the eggs, together with the habits of birds during the entire nesting season ; (5) the effect * See Newton’s Dictionary of Birds (London : Adam and Charles Black, 1893) ; articles, ‘‘ Anatomy of Birds” and * Fossil Birds” ; Coues's Key to N. A. Birds. + Read The Geographical Distribution of North American Mammals, by J. A. Allen, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., iv, 1892, pp. 199-244; four maps. The Geo- graphical Origin and Distribution of North American Birds, considered in Rela- tion to Faunal Areas of North America, by J. A. Allen, The Auk, x, 1893, pp. 97-150 ; two maps. The Geographic Distribution of Life in North America with Special Reference to the Mammalia, by C. Hart Merriam, M.D., Proc. of the Biological Soc. of Washington, vii, 1892, pp. 1-64; one map. Laws of Tempera- ture Control, by Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Nat. Geog. Mag., vi, 1894, pp. 229-238 ; three maps. ¢ On this subject read articles by the following authors: J. A. Allen, Scrib- ner’s Magazine, xxii, 1881, pp. 932-938 ; Bull. Nuttall Orn. Club, v, 1880, pp. 151- 154 ; Scott, ibid., vi, 1881, pp. 97-100 ; Brewster, Memoirs Nuttall Orn. Club (Cam- bridge, Mass.), No. 1, pp. 22; Cooke and Merriam, Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley (Washington. 1888); Chapman, Auk, v, 1888, pp. 37-39 ; xi, 1894, pp. 12-17; Loomis, Auk, ix, 1892, pp. 28-39; xi, 1894, pp. 26-89, 94-117 ; Stone, Birds of E. Penn. and N. J., Bird Migration, pp. 15-28. 4 GEOGRAPHICAL RACES, of climate upon the color and size of birds;* (6) the relation of a bird’s color to its haunts and habits.t Besides these general subjects which enter into our study of the life-history of every bird, we have the special instances of intelligent adaptation to changed conditions of life, and, most interesting of all, the relation between structure and habits, or the part played by a bird’s habits in determining the form of its bill, feet, wings, and tail. Thus the Crook-billed Plover of New Zealand turns over or probes under stones and shells in search of food, not because its crooked bill makes an excellent lever or probe, but it has acquired a crooked bill through this habit. Again, the Gallinules of certain islands in southern seas are flightless, not because their wings are too small to support them, but because after having flown to these islands they had no further use for wings, which in time, through dis- use, became so small that the birds have lost the power of flight. In other words, it is not because their wings are small that they do not fly, but because they do not fiy their wings are small. But to enlarge upon these problems which confront the philo- sophie ornithologist would require a volume. It is important, how- ever, that the student should have in the beginning at least a general idea of the effect of climate on the size and color of birds and the migration of birds. The first is well illustrated by our Bob-white or Quail. In New England, at the northern limit of its range, it is a fine, large bird with a light-brown back and a white breast narrowly barred with black. As we proceed southward it becomes smaller, the brown is of a deeper shade, the black bars of greater extent. Finally, when we have reached the humid region of southern Florida, the minimum in size is attained, the back is dark, rich chestnut barred with black, and the breast is almost wholly black. No one who compared this small, dark Florida Quail with the large, pale Quail of New England would consider them the same species. But on examining a series of Quails from all the Atlantic States one sees how gradually this change in color and decrease in size occurs, and that nowhere would it be possible to draw a line separating the two extremes. They are species in process of formation still connected by a chain of natural links. Ornithology presents many similar cases. They illustrate two laws in the evolution of animals—decrease in size southward and greater * Read Part III of Dr. J. A. Allen's Mammals and Winter Birds of East Florida, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zodl., vol. ii, No. 3. Cambridge, 1871. + Consult Poulton’s Colors of Animals (D. Appleton & Co.; 1890); Bed- dard’s Animal Coloration (Macmillan & Co.) ; Keeler’s Evolution of the Colors of North American Land-birds (Occasional Papers of California Academy of Sciences, ili, 1898); also reviews of last two works in The Auk, x, 1893, pp. 189- 199, 373-380. MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 5 intensity of color in regions of greatest rainfall. They are thus evi- dences of an evolution so recent that we can assign its cause. In nomenclature these partly formed species are termed subspecies or races. Under the trinomial system they are distinguished by a third name: thus Colinus virgintanus floridanus is a subspecies or race of Colinus virginianus. But if through any change in the earth’s sur- face the regions occupied by the large, light Quail and the small, dark one should be separated, the intermediates would disappear and in- stead of a race or subspecies we would have a full species—Colinus floridanus. The Migration of Birds.—Certain insects, fishes, and mammals migrate, but no animals compare with birds in the extent of their migrations. Some birds nest within the Arctic Circle and winter in the southern parts of the southern hemisphere, performing this jour- ney of thousands of miles year after year and returning to their sum- mer or winter haunts with marvelous certainty and regularity. Not only is the migration of birds an interesting subject in itself, but the almost constant changes it causes in the bird-life of the same region gives an interest to the study of ornithology which is ever re- newed with the changing seasons.: Indeed, to the lover of Nature birds are a living calendar. “ What was that sound that came on the softened air? It was the warble of the Bluebird from the scraggy orchard yonder. When this is heard, then has spring arrived.” A discussion of the origin of bird migration will be found in the books and papers on this subject to which reference has been given. Here it is possible only to outline its principal features as they exist to-day. Generally speaking, birds migrate at the approach of winter, in search of food. “The reason why they leave a land of plenty in the tropics and follow the footsteps of retreating winter to nest in the comparatively barren north is as yet not satisfactorily explained. As.a rule, the extent of a bird’s migration depends upon the nature of its food. Insect-eating birds are forced to extend their migrations much farther than the seed-eaters, many of which are permanent residents at their place of birth. The land-birds of the Western States winter in Mexico. A few cross the Isthmus of Tehuantepec into Central America, but practically no species cross the Isthmus of Panama. Our Eastern birds have a longer and more perilous journey . to perform. They leave the mainland by way of Florida, and some : species find congenial winter haunts in the West Indies or Central America, while others go as far south as the Argentine Republic. Birds of strong flight, like Swallows, can easily escape from bird- killing Hawks, and so migrate boldly by day. But the shy, retiring inhabitants of woods and thickets await the coming of darkness, and 6 ECONOMIC ORNITHOLOGY. then, mounting high in the air, pursue their journey under cover of the night. Birds direct their flight by coast lines and river valleys which are easily distinguishable in clear weather. On favorable nights these natural highways of migration are thronged by a continuous stream of aérial voyagers passing from dusk until dawn. ; Looking through a telescope at the moon, one may see numbers of birds cross its glowing surface. From such observations it is com- puted that migrating birds fly at a height of from one to three miles. The eyesight of birds is so far superior to ours that we do not realize its value to them while migrating. The height at which they fly gives them command of a wide range of country, and on clear nights they can undoubtedly distinguish its prominent features with ease. But when fogs or clouds obscure these landmarks, they lose their way. It is then that lighthouses prove beacons luring them to destruction. The Bartholdi Statue, at the mouth of the Hudson River, is directly in the path of the great streams of migrants which flow up and down this natural highway of migration, and for this reason is particularly destructive to birds which travel at night. On one occasion after a storm no less than fourteen hundred birds were picked up at its base, having been killed by striking the statue or pedestal upon which it rests, But while sight is of the first importance to the older and more experienced birds who know the way, young birds, who are making the journey for the first time, doubtless rely on their hearing to guide them. Birds’ ears are exceedingly acute. They readily detect sounds which to us would be inaudible. Almost invariably they respond to an imitation of their notes, and, when under way, frequently chirp and call. When we consider their power of hearing and their abundance in routes of migration, it seems probable that at no time during the night is a bird beyond the hearing of his fellow-travelers. The line of flight once established, therefore, by the older birds, who leave first, it becomes a comparatively easy matter for the younger birds to join the throng. Economie Ornithology.—This branch of the study of ornithology treats of the relationships of bird to man from the standpoint of dollars and cents. Civilized man is Nature’s worst enemy. Heisa disturbing element whose presence is a constant menace to the balance of life. It is of the utmost importance, therefore, that we should acquaint ourselves with the conditions which make a true equilibrium and endeavor to sustain them when it proves to our advantage to do so. The disastrous results which have followed man’s introduction of the English or House Sparrow in America, the mongoose in the West ECONOMIC ORNITHOLOGY. q Indies, and the rabbit in Australia, clearly show that our attempts to improve upon Nature must be directed, not by haphazard methods, but by knowledge gained through a careful study of Nature’s laws. Few persons realize the value of birds to man. They are the natural check upon the increase of insect life. Consider the incal- culable number of insects destroyed by the birds which pass the greater part of each day hunting through our lawns, orchards, fields, and woods for the pests that destroy vegetation. Of almost equal im- portance are the birds of prey whose food consists largely of the small rodents which are among the farmer’s worst enemies. Indeed, it is not too much to say that without birds the earth would not long be habitable. As yet we are on the threshold of an exact knowledge of the value of birds to man; but let us cite one easily demonstrable case where ignorance of birds’ habits resulted in direct pecuniary loss. Quoting from the report for 1886 of Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Ornithologist and Mammalogist of the United States Department of Agriculture: “On the 23d of June, 1885, the Legislature of Pennsylvania passed an act known as the ‘scalp act,’ ostensibly ‘for the benefit of agriculture,’ which provides a bounty of fifty cents each on hawks, owls, weasels, and minks killed within the limits of the State, and a fee of twenty cents to the notary or justice taking the affidavit. “By virtue of this act about $90,000 has been paid in bounties during the year and a half that has elapsed since the law went into effect. This represents the destruction of at least 128,571 of the above-mentioned animals, most of which were hawks and owls. “Granting that 5,000 chickens are killed annually in Pennsylvania by hawks and owls, and that they are worth twenty-five cents each (a liberal estimate in view of the fact that a large proportion of them are killed when very young), the total loss would be 1,250, and the poultry killed in a year and a half would be worth $1,875. Hence it, appears that during the past eighteen months the State of Pennsylvania has «xpended $90,000 to save its farmers a loss of $1,875. But this esti- mate by no means represents the actual loss to the farmer and the tax- payer of the State. It is within: bounds to say that in the course of a year every hawk and owl destroys at least a thousand mice or their equivalent in insects, and that each mouse or its equivalent so de- stroyed would cause the farmer a loss of two cents perannum. There- fore, omitting all reference to the enormous increase in the numbers of these noxious animals when Nature’s means of holding them in check has: been removed, the lowest possible estimate of the value to the farmer of each hawk, owl, and weasel would be $20 a year, or $30 in a year and a half. 8 SENTIMENT OF ORNITHOLOGY. “ “Hence, in addition to the $90,000 actually expended by the State in destroying 128, 571 of its benefactors, it has incurred a loss to its agricultural interests of at least $3,857,180, or a total loss of $3,947,180 in a year and a half, which is at the rate of 2,631,420 per annum. In other words, the State has thrown away $2,105 for every dollar saved ! Arid even this does not represent fairly the full loss, for the slaughter of such a vast number of predaceous birds and mammals is almost certain to be followed by a correspondingly enormous increase in the numbers of mice and insects formerly held in check by them, and it will take many years to restore the balance thus blindly destroyed through ignorance of the economic relations of our common birds and mammals.” To their credit be it said, the legislators of Pennsylvania were not slow to recognize the error which a lack of proper information had caused them to make. A State ornithologist was appointed, and through his efforts this ruinous and absurd law was repealed. In 1898 the Division of Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy of the Department of Agriculture issued a report upon the food of the Hawks and Owls of the United States based upon the examination of the contents of 2,690 stomachs. It proves conclusively the value of most of these misjudged birds to the agriculturist. It is need- less to draw a comparison between legislation based upon information derived from such reports and that based solely on ignorant preju- dices. The Sentiment of Ornithology.—We may accept as true Prof. Morse’s estimate of the value of birds to the scientist; we need not - question their importance in the economics of Nature, but we are still far from recognizing the possibilities of their influence upon our lives. An inherent love of birds is an undeniable psychological fact which finds its most frequent expression in the general fondness for cage- birds. If we can learn to regard the birds of the woods and fields with all the affection we lavish on our poor captives in their gilded homes, what an inexhaustible store of enjoyment is ours! It is not alone the beauty, power of song, or intelligence of birds which attract us, it is their human attributes. Man exhibits hardly a trait which he will not find reflected in the life of a bird. Love, hate; courage, fear; anger, pleasure; vanity, modesty; virtue, vice; constancy, fickleness ; generosity, selfishness; wit, curiosity, memory, reason—we may find them all exhibited in the lives of birds. Birds have thus become symbolic of certain human characteristics. and the more common spccies are so interwoven in our art and literature that by name at least they are known to all of us. Shakespeare makes over six hundred references to birds or bird-life. If we should rob SENTIMENT OF ORNITHOLOGY. 9 Wordsworth’s verses of their birds, how sadly mutilated what re- mained would be! But why leave a knowledge of birds to poets and naturalists? Go yourself to the field and learn that birds do not exist solely in books, but are concrete, sentient beings, whose acquaintance may bring you more unalloyed happiness than the wealth of the Indies. John Bur- roughs understands this when he writes of the study of birds: “ There is a fascination about it quite overpowering. It fits so well with other things—with fishing, hunting, farming, walking, camping out—with all that takes one to the fields and woods. One may go a blackberry- ing and make some rare discovery; or while driving his cow to pas- ture, hear a new song, or make a new observation. Secrets lurk on all sides. There is news in every bush. What no man ever saw before may the next moment be revealed to you. What a new interest the woods have! How you long to explore every nook and corner of them!” Human friends may pass beyond our ken, but our list of acquaint- ances in the bird world increases to the end and shows no vacancies. The marsh the Blackbirds loved may become the site of a factory, but no event on the calendar is more certain than that in due time and place we shall hear the tinkling chorus of the epauleted minstrels rising and falling on the crisp morning air. « |... Time may come when never more The wilderness shall hear the lion roar ; But, long as cock shall crow from household perch To rouse the dawn, soft gales shall speed thy wing, And thy erratic voice be faithful to the spring |” The woods of our youth may disappear, but the Thrushes will always sing for us, and their voices, endeared by cherished associa- tions, arouse echoes of a hundred songs and awaken memories before which the years will vanish, CHAPTER II. THE STUDY OF BIRDS OUT-OF-DOOBRS. How to Identify Birds—Whether your object be to study birds as a scientist or simply as a lover of Nature, the first step is the same— you must learn to know them. This problem of identification has been given up in despair by many would-be ornithologists. We can neither pick, press, net, nor impale birds; and here the botanist and the entomologist have a distinct advantage. Even if we have the desire to resort to a gun its use is not always possible. But with patience and practice the identification of birds is a comparatively easy matter, and in the end you will name them with surprising ease and certainty. There is generally more character in the flight of a bird than’ there is in the gait of a man. Both are frequently inde- scribable but perfectly diagnostic, and you learn to recognize bird friends as you do human ones—by experience. If you confine your studies to one locality, probably not more than one third of the species described in this volume will come within the field of your observation. To aid you in learning which species should be included in this third, the paragraphs on Range are followed by a statement of the bird’s standing at Washington, D. C., Sing Sing, N. Y., and Cambridge, Mass., while the water-birds of Long Island are treated specially. Take the list of birds from the point nearest your home as an index of those you may expect to find. This may be abridged for a given season by considering the times of the year at which a bird is present.* * It is sometimes possible to secure a list of birds of your own vicinity. These “local lists” are generally published in scientific journals, but one may fre- quently secure a copy of the author's edition. On this subject correspond with L. S. Foster, 35 Pine Street, New York city. Among the local lists of eastern birds which were issued as separate publications and are now for sale are— 1, A Catalogue of the Birds of the Virginias, by Wm. C. Rives, M. A., M.D. Proc. Newport [R. I.] Nat. Hist. Sov., Document VII, 1890, 8vo, pp. 100, one map, 805 species. 2. The Birds of Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with Introductory 10 HOW TO FIND BIRDS. 11. After this slight preparation you may take to the field with a much clearer understanding of the situation. Two quite different ways of identifying birds are open to you. Hither you may shoot them, or study them through a field- or opera-glass, A “bird in the hand” isa definite object whose structure and color can be studied to such ad- vantage that in most cases you will afterward recognize it at sight. After learning the names of its parts, its identity is simply a question of keys and descriptions. If you would “name the birds without a gun,” by all means first visit a museum, and, with text-book in hand, study those species which you have previously found are to be looked for near your home. This preliminary introduction will serve to ripen your acquaintance in the field. A good field- or opera-glass is absolutely indispensable. A strong opera-glass with a large eye-piece is most useful in the woods, while a field-glass is more serviceable in observing water-birds. Study your bird as closely as circumstances will permit, and write on the spot a comparative description of its size, the shape of its bill, tail, etc., and a detailed description of its colors. In describing form take a Robin, Chipping Sparrow, or any bird you know, which best serves the pur- pose, as a basis for comparison. A bird’s bill is generally its most diagnostic external character. A sketch of it in your note-book will frequently give you a good clew to its owner’s family. It is of the utmost importance that. this description should be written in the field. Not only do our memories sometimes deceive us, but we really see nothing with exactness until we attempt to describe it. Haunts, ac- tions, and notes should also be carefully recorded. This account is your “bird in the hand,” and while you can not hope to identify it as easily as you could a specimen, you will rarely fail to learn its name, and experience will render each attempt less difficult than the pre- ceding. How to Find Birds.—The best. times of the day in which to look for birds are early morning and late afternoon. After a night of fasting and resting, birds are active and hungry. When their appe- tites are satisfied they rest quietly until afternoon, hunger again send- ing them forth in search of food. Chapters on Geographical Distribution and Migration, prepared under the Direc- tion of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, by Witmer Stone, Conservator Ornithological Section Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 8vo, pp. 185, two diagrams, two maps, 352 species. Price, $1. 3. An Annotated List of the Birds known to occur within Fifty Miles of New York City, by Frank M. Chapman. Published by the American Museum of Natu- ral History, New York city. as a guide to its collection of local birds. 8vo, pp. 100, 36 cuts, 4 full-page plates, 348 species. For sale at the Museum. Price, 15 cents. 19 WHEN TO FIND BIRDS. Experience will soon show you the places where birds are most abundant. The more varied the nature of the country the greater number of species you may expect to find inhabiting it. An ideal locality would be a bit of tree-dotted meadow with a reed-bordered pond or stream, surrounded by woods, rolling uplands, and orchards. Common sense will tell you how to act in the field. Birds are gen- erally shy creatures and must be approached with caution. You must not, therefore, go observing or collecting dressed in flaming red, but in some inconspicuous garb and as quietly as a cat. Furthermore, go alone and keep the sun at your back—two apparently unrelated but equally important bits of advice. The collector generally has the instincts of a hunter, and practice will develop them. The “squeak” is one of his most valuable aids. It is made by placing the lips to the back of the hand or finger and kissing vigorously. The sound produced bears some resemblance to the cries of a wounded or young bird. In the nesting season its utter- ance frequently creates much excitement in the bird world, and at all times it is useful as a means of drawing bush- or reed-haunting species from their retreats. One may enter an apparently deserted thicket, and, after a few minutes’ squeaking, find himself surrounded by an anxious or curious group of its feathered inhabitants. The observer of birds will find that by far the best way to study their habits is to take a sheltered seat in some favored locality and become a part of the background. Your passage through the woods is generally attended by sufficient noise to warn birds of your coming long before you see them. They are then suspicious and ill at ease. But secrete yourself near some spot loved by birds, and it may be your privilege to learn the secrets of the forest. When to Find Birds.—During the year the bird-life of temperate and boreal regions fluctuates with the changing seasons. Birds may thus be classed in the following groups according to the manner of their occurrence: Permanent residents are birds found in one locality throughout the year. Summer residents come from the south in the spring, rear their young, and leave in the fall. Winter visitants come from the north in the fall, pass the winter, and leave in the spring. Transient visitants pass through a given place in migrating to and from their summer homes north of it. Accidental visitants are birds which have lost their way. They are generally young and inexperi- enced, and are usually found in the fall. The best time of the year to begin studying birds is in the winter, when the bird population of temperate regions is at the minimum. The problem of identification is thus reduced to its simplest terms, and should be mastered before spring introduces new elements. THE ORNITHOLOGICAL YEAR. 13 The commoner permanent residents of the middle Eastern States are the following: Bob-white, Hairy Woodpecker, Ruffed Grouse, Flicker, Red-shouldered Hawk, Blue Jay, Red-tailed Hawk, Crow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Meadowlark, Barred Owl, American Goldfinch, Long-eared Owl, Purple Finch, Screech Owl, Song Sparrow, Great Horned Owl, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, Chickadee, and occasionally the Waxwing, Bluebird, and Robin pass the winter. To these should be added the following more or less common winter visitant land-birds: Saw-whet Owl, Tree Sparrow, Horned Lark, Junco, Snowflake, Northern Shrike, Lapland Longspur, Winter Wren, Redpoll, ; Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Crossbill, Brown Creeper. White-throated Sparrow, Let us now begin with the opening of the spring migration and briefly review the ornithological year. In the vicinity of New York city the first birds arrive from the south late in February or early in March. There is much variation in the coming of these early birds. Later, when the weather is more settled, migrants arrive within a few days of a given date. In April most of our winter visitants leave for the north. The current of migration grows steadily stronger until about May 12, when high-water mark is reached. Then it rapidly subsides and the spring migration is practically over by June 1. The winter visitants have gone, the great army of transients has passed us, and our bird population is now composed of permanent residents with the addition of about ninety summer residents. Nesting-time has arrived, and birds which for nearly a year have been free to go and come as inclination directed, now have homes where, day after day, they may be found in-tireless attendance upon the nest and its treasures. Courtship, the construction of a dwelling, the task of incubation, and care of the young, all tend to stimulate the characteristic traits of the bird, and at no other time can its habits be studied to better advantage. But resident birds begin building long before the migration is con- 14 THE ORNITHOLOGICAL YEAR. cluded. ‘The Great Horned Owl lays in February, other birds in March and April; still, the height of the breeding season is not reached until June 1. Another period in the avian year closely connected with the spring migration and nesting-time is the song season, Near New York city it is inaugurated late in February by the Song Sparrow. Voice after voice is added to the choir, and in June our woods and fields ring with the chorus so dear to lovers of Nature. By the middle of July it is on the wane, and early in August it is practically over. Some birds have a brief second song season in the fall, but as a rule it lasts only a few days—it is a farewell to their summer homes.* ; August is a most discouraging month to the student of birds. Birds leave their accustomed haunts and retire to secluded places to renew their worn plumages. They are silent and inactive, and there- fore difficult to find. Late in the month they reappear clad in travel- ing costumes and ready for their southern journey. One by one they leave us, and there are days late in August and early in September when the woods are almost deserted of birds. Later the fall migra- tion becomes continuous, and each night brings a host of new arrivals. The spring migration is scarcely concluded before the fall’ migra- tion begins. July 1, ‘ree Swallows, which rarely nest near New York city, appear in numbers from the north and gather in immense flocks in our marshes. Later in the month they are joined by Bobolinks. Early in August the careful observer will detect occasional small flights of Warblers passing southward, and by September 10 the great, southern march of the birds is well under way; it reaches its height between the 20th and last of the month, when most of the win- ter residents arrive, and from this time our bird-life rapidly decreases. Some of the seed- and berry-eaters remain until driven southward by the cold weather in December. When they have gone our bird popu- lation is again reduced to the ever-present permanent residents and hardy winter visitants. The appended tables graphically illustrate the rise and fall of the migrations and of the nesting season. The first is based on my own observations at Englewood, N. J., kindly revised and supplemented by Mr. Eugene P. Bicknell from extended observations at Riverdale, on the opposite side of the Hudson River. The second was compiled from data accompanying the collections of the American Museum of Natural History. * See a series of papers by Mr. E. P. Bicknell entitled ‘“* A Study of the Sing- ing of our Birds.” The Auk, i, 1884, pp. 60-71, 126-140, 209-218, 322-882 ; ii, 1885, pp, 144-154, 249-262, Date of arrival. Feb. 15-Mar. 10, March 10-20, March 20-31. April 1-10. April 10-20. April 20-380. THE SPRING MIGRATION, 15 SPRING MIGRATION. Date of departure. Purple Grackle..... 2.22.0... eee ees November 1-80. Rusty Blackbird ......... 0... 00c.0008 April-May. Red-winged Blackbird, November 1-80. Robin November 1-30, Bluebird November 1-80. Woodcock November 1-30. Phebe October 20-380, Meadowlark . November 1-30. CO WD cots 2 sie sacs tas cis azaes geeed aiaeeeaye eta November 1-30, POX Sparrows. sje sca ae ane exes eWay neers April 1-15, Wilson’s Snipe............ May 1-10. Kingtisher................. ; November 1-80, Mourning Dove..........--..ccee eee November 1-30. Swamp Sparrow............22ceeeeeee November 1-80. Field Sparrow... cass isascseo: cae veas November 1-30. Great Blue Heron... ............0005 November 1-30. Purple Finch ........... ebasetecs pareeaiag November 1-80. Vesper Sparrow........ 0.6. eee eee eee November 1-30. Savanna Sparrow. May 1-15. Chipping Sparrow..............-.6006 November 1-30. Treo: Swallow sce seedy ova emau's one May 15-31. Myrtle: Warbler... cece ecseeeeee nes May 10-20. American Pipit...................... April 15-25. Hermit Thrush ..............00eeeeee April 25-May 10. Yellow-bellied Woodpecker........... April 20-30. Barn Swallow's osc cies ceswiws cicse vans October 1-10. Yellow Palm Warbler................ April 25-May 10. Pine Warbler yess iosic sccsneiy's eaters sialals ¢ tess May 1-10. Louisiana Water Thrush.............. September 20-30. Ruby-crowned Kinglet............... May 1-15. Green Heron t..066 ss cae nseeaneciven oes October 10-20. Spotted Sandpiper............... atta September 20-30. Whip-poor-will October 10-20, Chimney Swift...................eeee October 1-10. Least Flycatcher October 1-10. Towhee. ic sida veawccineni es October 20-80. Blue-headed Vireo..............0 0005 May 10-20. Purple Martin .............0 000s e eee September 20-80. Cliff Swallow............0.. October 1-10. Bank Swallow............++ October 1-10. Rough-winged Swallow. September 1-10. Black and White Warbler............ October 1-10. Black-throated Green Warbler........ May 15-25. Oven=dir b vsics ces dens cece teeien es ce October 1-10. Howse: Wretts:ssis can senses e seaw soos October 10-20. Brown Thrasher’ ..0 ccc. c secs cwsae vas October 10-20. 16 Date of arrival. April 20-30. May 1-10. May 10-20. THE SPRING MIGRATION. Date of departure. CHtbIFdl 1c sieies soe i acsteuiere aah Svcias saat October 10-20. Wood. TDhrushiss sedissssjvsie gieiaie stexessig wees October 1-10. Solitary Sandpiper May 15-25. Yellow-billed Cuckoo..............205 October 1-10. Black-billed Cuckoo..............005% October 1-10. Nighthawk .......sssccesaenes ... October 10-20. Ruby-throated Hummingbird......... September 20-30. Crested Flycatcher.. ......... .... September 20-30. King bird s.cie is sit ccsiers erate sisiets size .... September 20-30. Baltimore Oriole.............. .... September 10-20. Orchard Oriole............0655 .... September 1-10. Bobolink is oss sisiers os viee seein ... October 1-10. Yellow-winged Sparrow..... ... October 1-10. Indigo Bunting ............. .... October 1-10. Rose-breasted Grosbeak ...........4-- September 20-30. Scarlet Tanager October 1-10. Red-eyed Vireo October 10-20. Warbling Vireo September 20-30. Yellow-throated Vireo.............+-- September 20-80. White-eyed Vireo October 1-10. Nashville Warbler May 20-30. Blue-winged Warbler .............++- September 1-10. Parula Warbler............. May 20-80. Yellow Warbler. September 10-20. Black-throated Blue Warbler......... May 15-30. Magnolia Warbler..............0000++ May 15-30. Chestnut-sided Warbler.............. May 20-80. Prairie Warbler.... .......cseeesenee May 20-30. Maryland Yellow-throat............. October 10-20. Small-billed Water Thrush........... May 15-80. Hooded Warbler..............ee0ee0e September 20-30. Yellow-breasted Chat. September 10-20. Redstart iis cssscvses esac ccd s vases October 1-10. Wilson’s Thrush................00008 September 20-30. WO0d PEWEEs. 2 cvecee! asin eeneaa edie September 20-30. Acadian Flycatcher ...............006 September 1-10. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher ............ May 20-30. White-crowned Sparrow.............. May 15-25. Golden-winged Warbler.............. May 15-25. Tennessee Warbler May 15-25. Worm-eating Warbler..............66 September 1-10. Cape May Warbler................4-- May 15-25. Blackburnian Warbler... May 15-25. Bay-breasted Warbler................ May 20-30. Blackpoll Warbler ................... May 25-June 5. Wilson’s Warbler..... May 20-30. Canadian Warbler. May 25-June 5. Date of arrival. May 10-20. May 20-30. Date of arrival. August 1-15. August 15-31. September 1-10. September 10-20. September 20-30. October 1-10. THE FALL MIGRATION. 17 Date of departure. Long-billed Marsh Wren............. October 10-20. Short-billed Marsh Wren............. October 10-20. Olive-backed Thrush................- May 20-June 1. Gray-cheeked Thrush...............- May 25-June 5. Traill’s Flycatcher ...............0006 (2) Mourning Warbler.................-. May 30-June 5. Bicknell’s Thrush (2) FALL MIGRATION. MIGRANTS ARRIVING FROM THE NORTH. Date of departure. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher............ September 20-30. Golden-winged Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbier September 1-10. Sept. 30-Oct. 10. Canadian Warbler..................5- September 20-30. Small-billed Water Thrush........... Sept. 25-Oct. 5. Olive-sided Flycatcher ............... September 10-20. Tennessee Warbler................... Sept. 25-Oct. 5. Nashville Warbler..................- Sept. 25-Oct. 5. Parula Warblers: asin savessqaaente xen October 15-25. Cape May Warbler..................- Sept. 25-Oct. 5. Black-throated Green Warbler........ October 15-25. Black-throated Blue Warbler......... October 15-25. Magnolia Warbler......... October 10-20. Blackburnian Warbler. September 20-30. Wilson’s Warbler .......... ccc ee eeee September 20-30. Canadian Nuthatch .............--568 November 1-30. Red-headed Woodpecker... November 1-30. Blackpoll Warbler ..............05.05 October 15-25. Connecticut Warbler September 20-30, Blue-headed Vireo.......... October 15-25. Philadelphia Vireo..........020.eeeee September 20-30. Olive-backed Thrush October 1-10. Bicknell’s Thrush.................56+ October 1-10. Yellow-bellied Woodpecker........... October 20-30. Junco April 10-May 10. White-throated Sparrow.............- May 1-25. Myrtle Warbler. 0% ccccs ecw. sacs eee May 5-20. Yellow Palm Warbler................ October 15-380. Brown Creeper ses ¢ eves canis sees cies April 1-80. Golden-crowned Kinglet.............. April 1-20. Ruby-crowned Kinglet............... October 20-380. Winter Wrelis saaccieiueseieis oe ars es April 1-30. Gray-cheeked Thrush...............- October 15-25. Bronzed Grackle.........2...00-e0eee December 1-30. Rusty Blackbird ............00... 0005 December 1-80. American Pipit.............0..eee eee Oct. 25-Nov. 5. 18 Date of arrival. Oct. 1-10. October 10-20. October 20-81. THE FALL MIGRATION. Date of departure. Hermit Thrush,........... Pao tee . November 1-30, Fox Sparrow...... oR REE CERES RES Novy. 25-Dec. 5, Pine Finch May 1-31. Tree Sparrow's avec vesee vices soenas snes April 1-30. Northern Shrike ..............2.0000- March 1-81. SUMMER RESIDENTS LEAVING FOR THE SOUTH. Date of departure. September 1-10. September 10-20. September 20-80. October 1-10. October 10-20. Acadian Flycatcher................2+ Orchard Oriole.......... 0200 seen es 7 Rough-winged Swallow............... Worm-eating Warbler................ Blue-winged Warbler..............-. Baltimore Oriole................205-- Purple: Martinis 4 cece secaeesa ne daness Yellow® Warbler. isace vane ocexesane vs Hummingbird ................6. Kingbird, o22 sue Sotacene aeaten Great-crested Flycatcher. Wood Pewee......sceeseresceres s Rose-breasted Grosbeak.............-+ Yellow-throated Vireo..............25 "Wearbling® Vare@ ss. siosce meniit eeeceeisied aie Hooded Warbler Louisiana Water Thrush.............. Wilson’s' Thrush o2.05 0 x034 aaass seni ce Black-billed Cuckoo, : Chimney Swift.....................08 Least Flycatcher............2.... e006 Bobolinkis, cc es scas comecewees sede ee Yellow-winged Sparrow.............. Indigo Bunting................ soe tts Scarlet Tanager.. Barn Swallow Cliff Swallow White-eyed Vireo.............. aie oe OW Black and White Warbler Redstatte.s:cicesur cc tecsciwns sao yx Oven-bird..... Wood Thrush... Whip-poor-will.. Nighthawks codiede se cdeniiscee eas ae Red-eyed Vireo Maryland Yellow-throat.............. Date of departure. Oct. 10-20. October 20-31, November 1-30.* THE NESTING SEASON, 19 Long-billed Marsh Wren..........+0¢ Short-billed Marsh Wren..... gaviea gists Ouse Wren. canis siveisiecie cane canes oe Brown Thrasher .............0- seen Wee CAtDITE csaciscdwi ntwas ds axcsanie sede Mourning Dove............... pases WRUNG ASH OT. os ss cs2.2i5 0 eared aaiacuitiarna er eidisie Red-winged Blackbird ..............5 Pilitple: Gracklei.is ccc sana saraesewe Cowbird were. visa cass see iar disse Vesper Sparrow............4. Field Sparrow ............... Chipping Sparrow............ Swamp Sparrow..............-.e-000- DATES AT WHICH BIRDS BEGIN TO NEST IN THE VICINITY OF Feb. 28, Mar. 12. 28, 30. April 1. 3. 3. 6. 9. 95 10. 1%. 18. 20. 25. 25. 28. 29, May 1. 1. dy NEW YORK CITY.t+ Great Horned Owl. May 2. Osprey. Barred Owl. 8. Cardinal. Carolina Wren. 5. Cowbird, [In Song Spar- Duck Hawk. row’s nest.] Woodcock. 6. Wood Duck. Red-shouldered Hawk. 6. Green Heron. Screech Owl. 7. Flicker. Red-tailed Hawk. 8. Barn Swallow. American Crow. 10, Clapper Rail. Long-eared Owl. 10. Killdeer. Bluebird. 10. Ruffed Grouse. White-breasted Nuthatch. 10. Sparrow Hawk. Broad-winged Hawk. 10, Savanna Sparrow. Robin. 10. Vesper Sparrow. Mourhing Dove. 11. Louisiana Water-Thrush. Purple Grackle. 12. Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Phebe. 18. Red-headed Woodpecker. Song Sparrow. 14. Acadian Flycatcher. Black-crowned Night Heron. 14. Blue Jay. Cooper’s Hawk. 14. Chipping Sparrow. Kingfisher. 14, Towhee. * Should the season be an exceptionally mild one, many of these birds may remain until late in December. ° + Based on data accompanying the odlogical collections of the American Museum, and on the observations of Prof. Marston T. Bogert, Dr. J. Dwight, Jr., Dr. Evan M. Evans, Mr. W. P. Lemmon, and the author. The dates given are those on which, with some exceptions, full sets of eggs have been taken. 90 THE NESTING SEASON. May 15. King Rail. May 25. Maryland Yellow-throat. 15. Virginia Rail. 26. Bob-white. 15. Meadowlark. 26. Marsh Hawk. 15. Field Sparrow. 28. Grasshopper Sparrow. 15. Swamp Sparrow. 28. Red-eyed Vireo. 15. Hooded Warbler. 28, Yellow-throated Vireo. 16. Blue-winged Warbler. 29. Black-billed Cuckoo. 16. Brown Thrasher. 29. Kingbird. 17. Fish Crow. 29. Bobolink. 17. Redstart. 29. Indigo Bunting. 17. Catbird. 29. Chestnut-sided Warbler. 17. Wood Thrush. 80. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. 18. Red-winged Blackbird. 30. Orchard Oriole. 18. Black and White Warbler. 30. Seaside Sparrow. 18. House Wren. 80. Sharp-tailed Sparrow. 19. Tree Swallow. 30. Rough-winged Swallow. 19. Bank Swallow. 30. Cliff Swallow. 19. Chickadee. 80. Warbling Vireo. 20. Rose-breasted Grosbeak. 80. Prairie Warbler. 20. Worm-eating Warbler. * 81. Long-billed Marsh Wren. 20. Oven-bird. 81. Least Bittern. 20. Veery. June 1. Bartramian Sandpiper. 21. Sharp-shinned Hawk. 1. Piping Plover. 21. Downy Woodpecker. 1. Nighthawk. 21. Least Flycatcher. 1. Kentucky Warbler. 22, Parula Warbler. 8. Whip-poor-will. 23, Hairy Woodpecker. 8. Great-crested Flycatcher. 23. Chat. 8. Scarlet Tanager. 24, Purple Finch. 5. Wood Pewee. 24. Spotted Sandpiper. ’. Short-billed Marsh Wren. 25. Chimney Swift. 8. Laughing Gull. 25. Baltimore Oriole. 12. Common Tern. 25. Purple Martin. 19. Cedar Waxwing. 25. White-eyed Vireo. 20. American Goldfinch. Hints on keeping Note-Books and Journals.—The necessity of a well-kept journal can not be too strongly urged. Specimens may be duplicated, but no one can ever see with your eyes. Do not attempt to trust to your memory—a willing servant of the mind too frequently imposed upon. It may receive and retain one impression clearly, but as others are added the earlier ones lose their distinctness or become entirely effaced. The system adopted for recording notes should be simple to keep and easy of reference. The one here recommended has stood the test of ten years’ experience. After returning from the field I enter in my “roll-book,” at once, a record of the weather, temperature, direction and force of the wind, locality visited, time of starting and returning, NOTE-BOOKS AND JOURNALS, 21 and incidental observations on the blooming of flowers, appearance of certain insects, calling of frogs, etc. Then follows a statement of the numbers of every species of birds seen, with various remarks concern- ing them. One might suppose that much time would be required to make a detailed record of this kind, but, on the contrary, it seldom takes five minutes. Almost any stationer can supply you with a “roll-” or “ time-book ” having a space at the left side of the left-hand page for the entry of names, and the rest of both pages ruled in squares, The best plan is to have sheets of paper ruled in this way. These sheets should have holes punched in their margins for binding in covers, when new sheets can be inserted as desired. Some idea of their appearance may be gathered from the appended part of a left-hand page: 92 NOTE-BOOKS AND JOURNALS. ‘ After filling in the preliminary data I write after the name of each bird either the exact or approximate number of individuals seen, or else the letters “ A.,” “C.,” or “ T. C.,” meaning abundant, common, or tol- erably common. This is accompanied by an “s” if the bird is in song, or “calls” if it is simply heard calling. The possibilities of abbrevia- tion are unlimited, but use no abbreviation which is not fully explained. If you wish to make a record of some length concerning a certain species, place a cross or asterisk in its square. This refers to your journal of the same date. Read from left to right, the roll-book gives in a graphic, condensed form the standing of a species during the period of observation. Read from the top to the bottom of the page, it gives in an easily comparable way the complete record of each day, and at the same time it becomes an index to the bird-notes in your journal. To prevent needlessly multiplying your roll-books the series of birds’ names should be made to last at least during an entire season. To this end do not completely fill the right-hand page, but when you have used all of it but a space equal in width to the space occupied by the column of birds’ names, cut this part of the page—the ex- treme right—off; the part remaining will, when turned over to the left, just meét the column of names, and the lines of this column and the new page will thus run continuously. As before remarked, the roll-book should be attended to immediately on returning from the field, while your impressions are fresh. The journal may wait, when a reference to the roll-book will aid in recalling the day’s experiences. In addition to these two books, both of which should be quarto size, you need a small, leather-covered, pocket note-book for use in jotting memoranda in the field. CHAPTER III. COLLECTING BIRDS, THEIR NESTS, AND EGGS. Collecting Birds.—With few exceptions, the plumages of the birds of the eastern United States are well known to science. You will col- lect them, therefore, purely for the purpose of self-education. To this end it is not necessary that you should acquire the large series of speci- mens found in museums. From two to five specimens of each kind are enough, and when through their medium you have become famil- iar with the appearance of the species they represent, use the gun only to add to your list of acquaintances. If you wish to make a detailed, critical study of changes in the plumage of species due to age, sex, or season, or to compare some apparently abnormal specimen, visit the nearest museum, the collections of which should be accessible to every earnest student. Our eastern birds have been measured and described, their varia- tions noted and recorded, and there is little left to learn in study- ing their skins from a local standpoint. What we want now is knowl- edge of the léving, not the dead, bird. Bill slender and much curved; tail- feathers pointed and slightly stiffened, p. 885. KEY TO FAMILIES. Family 16. Paride.—Nvtuarcuss and Tirmice (Fig. 57). Subfamily Sitténe.—NuruarcueEs. 55 Bill rather long and slender, the end of the lower mandible slanting slightly upward; wings long and pointed, the third or fourth primary the longest, the first very small, not an inch in length; tail short and square, the outer feathers blotched with white, p. 386. Subfamily Parinw.—Timicez. Length 4:50-6:50; bill short, stout, and rounded, less than half an inch in length ; fourth or fifth primary longest, first very short, not more than one third as long; tail rather long, dull ashy gray without white blotches, p. 389 Family 18. Turdida. — TurusHes, BLvesirps, ete. (Fig. 59). Length over 5°50; bill mod- erate, the tip of the upper mandible notched; tarsus smooth, the scales, if any, fused and indistinct; tail square: wings long and pointed, 3°75 or over, third primary the longest, the first very short, less than one inch in length, p. 394. Family 17. Syloitda.—Kinerets and GwnatcatcuERs (Fig. 58). Length 3°50-5-00; bill slender, re- sembling that of some Warblers, but the first primary is very short, only about one third as long as the longest, p- 391. 56 GREBES, ORDER PYGOPODES. DIVING BIRDS. Wamity PopiciPip#. GREBES. The Grebes, or lobe-footed divers, number about thirty species, distributed throughout the world. Six species are found in North America. Grebes are eminently aquatic birds, and rarely if ever ven- ture upon land, where they are almost helpless. The marvelous rapid- ‘ity with which Grebes dive, and the ease with which this power for- merly enabled them to escape the shot of the fowler, have won for them their various popular names of “ Hell-diver,” “ Water-witch,” etc. The cartridges of the modern breech-loader do not give the warning of the discarded flint-lock or percussion cap, and “to dive at the flash” is an expression which now has lost half its meaning. Grebes possess the power of swimming with only the tip of the bill above water, a habit which accounts for many mysterious disappearances. They feed largely on fish, which they pursue and catch under water, progressing by aid of the feet alone. KEY TO THE SPEOIES. A. Depth of bill at nostril over °35. a. Wing over 6°00. . 2... 1. 1. ss + | 6% Horsant’s Gress. b. Wing under 600 . . . 2... . . + +) 6, Prep-BinLep GREBE. B. Depth of bill at nostril less than 35. . . . . . . 8. Horwep Gress. 2. Colymbus holboollii (Reink.). Horse rt’s Gres. Ad. in sum- mer.—Top of the head, small crest, and back of the neck, glossy black; back blackish ; throat and sides of the head silvery white; front and sides of the neck rufous, changing gradually over the breast into the silvery white belly ; sides tinged with rufous. Ad. in winter.—Upper parts blackish brown; throat and under parts whitish; front and sides of the neck pale rufous. Jm. —Upper parts blackish; throat and under parts silvery white; neck and sides grayish. L., 19°00; W., 7°50; Tar., 2:20; B., 1:90. Range.—Breeds in the interior of North America, from northern Minne- sota northward ; in winter migrates southward as far as South Carolina and Nebraska. Washington, uncommon W. V., Sept. 80 to Mch. or Apl., Long Island irregular W. V., Oct. to Apl Sing Sing, rare T. V., Oct. to Dec. Cam- bridge, casual. Nest, a mass of water-soaked, decaying vegetation floating among rushes in a slough, generally attached to its surroundings. Eggs, two to five, dull white, more or less soiled, 2°25 x 1°35. “In common with others of the family, this Grebe is an expert diver. Often it will sink into the water without any apparent effort, though more generally it jumps forward, throwing the head into the GREBE AND youna, PIED-BILLED GREBES. BT water and the body into the air. It is an expert and rapid swimmer also, and all its movements on the water are exceedingly graceful. When pursued, these birds invariably endeavor to escape by diving, though when on the wing they fly rapidly, their necks and feet stretched at full length” (Chamberlain). 3 3. Colymbus auritus Zinn. Hornep Gresr. Ad. in summer.— Top of the head, hind neck, and throat, glossy blackish ; lores pale chestnut; stripe, and plumes behind the eye, butfy ochraceous, deeper posteriorly ; back and wings blackish; secondaries white; foreneck, upper breast, and sides chestnut; lower breast and belly white. Ad. in winter and Im.—Upper parts grayish black ; under parts silvery white, sometimes washed with grayish on the throat and breast. L., 18°50; W., 5-40; Tar., 1°75; B., 90. Kange.—Breeds from northern United States (northern Illinois, St. Clair Flats) northward ; winters southward to the Gulf States. Washington, common W. V., fall to Apl. 25. Long Island, abundant T. V., rare W. V., Oct. to Apl. Sing Sing, common T. V., Oct. to Dec.; Mch. Cambridge, casual. West, a mass of water-soaked, decaying vegetation, floating among rushes in a slough, generally attached to its surroundings. Zyggs, two to seven, dull white, more or less soiled, 1°74 x 1°15. This species and the next are probably frequently mistaken for each other in life, and the same common names are in some instances applicable to both. Mr. Ernest E. Thompson writes of a captive in- dividual: “ When ordinarily swimming, the feet strike out alternately, and the progression is steady ; but sometimes both feet: struck together, and then the movement was by great bounds, and was evidently cal- culated to force the bird over an expanse of very weedy water, or through any tangle of weeds or rushes in which it might have found itself. When lifted out of the water, the feet worked so fast as to be lost to the eye in a mere haze of many shadowy feet with one attach- ment, When placed on the ground, it was perfectly helpless” (Birds of Manitoba, p. 466). 6. Podilymbus podiceps (Zinn.). Prep-pittep Grese; Dazcutcr; Diepaprer; Hevi-piver; Warer-witcn. (See Fig.5,a.) Ad. in summer.— Upper parts glossy, brownish black; throat black; upper breast, front and sides of the neck, and sides of the body, washed with brownish and indis- tinctly mottled with blackish; lower breast and belly white; a black band across the bill. Ad. in winter and Im.—Much like the above, but throat white and no black band on the bill. L. 13°50; W., 510; Tar., 1:45; B., 85. Range.—Argentine Republic northward through Mexico and the West In- dies to Hudson Bay and Great Slave Lake, breeding locally throughout its range; winters from New Jersey southward. Washington, common W. V., Aug. 25 to Apl. or May. Long Island, un- common T. V., Sept. to Apl. Sing Sing, common T. V., Apl. 6 to Apl. 20; 58 LOONS. Sept. 3 to Oct. 28; a few summer. Cambridge, T. V. in Apl.; very common Sept. to Nov.; breeds in one locality. : West, a mass of water-soaked, decaying vegetation, sometimes built up from the bottom in shallow water, sometimes floating among rushes in a slough, when it is generally attached to its surroundings. Zggs, four to eight, dull white, more or legs soiled or stained, 1-74 x 1:19. This is probably the best known of our Grebes, and is the one which most frequently tempts the shot of would-be sportsmen. Its common names may stand as an expression of its aquatic powers. It dives head foremost, or sinks slowly beneath the water. Like other Grebes, it can swim easily and for an indefinite period with only its bill above the water, and its sometimes mysterious and apparently complete dis- appearance is explained by this habit. FamILy UrinaTorjp. Loons. A family containing only five species, inhabiting the northern half of the northern hemisphere. The Loons are scarcely less aquatic than the Grebes, and are their equals as divers and swimmers. They visit the land only to nest, when their clumsy progress is assisted by the use of bill and wings. Their food consists of fish, which they procure by diving, progressing when under water by aid of the feet alone. KEY TO THE SPECIES, A. Throat black. a: Head. black: se ce gy ee ow 6 8 a * at a “Leon 6. Headashy ... «s« * « « « « §& Braex-raroaren Loos, B. Throat gray, foreneck chestnut . . . . . 11. Rep-raroatep Loon. C. Throat white or whitish; back fuscous, margined with grayish. a. Wing over 13-00; base of bill to anterior end of nostril °75 or over. 7. Loon (Im). 6, Wing under 13:00; base of bill to anterior end of nostril less than *75. 9. Biack-THRoatEeD Loon (Im.). D. Throat white or whitish; back fuscous, spotted with white. 11. Rep-raroatep Loon (Im.). 9. Urinator imber (Gunn.). Loon. (See Fig. 5,0.) Ad. in summer. —Upper parts, wings, tail, and neck black with bluish or greenish reflections: spaces on the throat and sides of the neck streaked with white; back and wings spotted and barred with white; breast and belly white; sides and a band at the base of the under tail-coverts black spotted with white. Ad. in winter and Im.—Upper parts, wings, and tail blackish margined with grayish not spotted with white; under parts white; throat sometimes washed with grayish. L.. 82:00; W., 14.00; Tar., 3°40; B., 2°80. Range.—Breeds from northern Hlinois, Minnesota, and northern New Eng- land to the Arctic Circle; winters from the southern limit of its breeding range to the Gulf of Mexico, ; LOONS. 59 Washington, common W. V., Sept. to Apl. 25. Long Island, abundant T. V., common W. V., Sept. to June. Sing Sing, common T.. V., Mch. and Oct. Cambridge, not common T. V., Apl. to early May ; Sept. to Nov. Nest, a slight depression in the ground within a few feet of the water. £998, two, grayish olive-brown, thinly spotted with blackish, 3°50 x 2°20. This wild inhabitant of our northern lakes and ponds possesses all the characteristic traits of the Divers. Its remarkable notes are thus described by Mr. J. H. Langille: “ Beginning on the fifth note of the scale, the voice slides through the eighth to the third of the scale above in loud, clear, sonorous tones, which on a dismal evening before a thunderstorm, the lightning already playing along the inky sky, are anything but musical. He has also another rather soft and pleasing utterance, sounding like who-who- who-who, the syllables being so rapidly pronounced as to sound almost like a shake of the voice—a sort of weird laughter.” Loons may be seen migrating by day singly or in small companies, generally at a considerable height. Their flight is strong, rapid, and direct. 9. Urinator arcticus (Zinn.). Buack-turoatEp Loon. Ad. in summer.—Throat, foreneck, back, wings, and tail black, with purplish and bluish reflections; a band of white streaks on the throat; sides of the neck, back, and wings streaked, barred, or spotted with white; top of head and nape gray; breast and belly white; a blackish band at the base of the under tail-coverts. Ad. in winter and Jm.—Similar in color to U. imber, not spotted above with white. L., 27-00; W., 11:00; Tar., 2°60; B., 2:00. Remarks—Immature and winter birds may be distinguished from the cor- responding stage of dmber by their small size; from lumme by grayish mar- gips instead of white spots, bars, or margins on the upper parts. Range—Breeds in the northern parts of the northern hemisphere; in North America migrates southward in winter to the northern United States, casually to Ohio and Long Island. Long Island, A. V., one record. Nest, a slight depression in the ground within a few feet of the water. £9qs, two, grayish olive-brown, spotted or scrawled with blackish, 3°20 x 2:10. This species is a very rare winter visitant to the northern border of the United States. The most southern record of its occurrence is Long Island (Dutcher, Auk, x, 1893, p. 265). 11. Urinator lumme (Gunn). Rep-ruroatTep Loon. Ad. in sum- mer.—Back, wings, and tail fuscous, more or less spotted with white; head and neck ashy gray ; foreneck chestnut ; back of’ the neck black, streaked with white; breast and belly white; longer under tail-coverts and band at the base of shorter ones fuscous. Ad. in winter and Im.—Similar to 7 imber, but back spotted with white. L., 25:00; W., 11:00; Tar., 2°60; B., 2:00. fange.—Found throughout the northern parts of the northern hemisphere, 60 AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS. breeding in North America from New Brunswick and Manitoba northward, and migrating irregularly southward as far as South Carolina. Washington, rare W. V. Long Island, common T. V., rare W. V., Oct. to May. Sing Sing, casual T. V. Cambridge, one instance, Uct. Vest, a slight depression in the ground within a few feet of the water. Lggs, two, grayish olive-brown, sometimes tinged with green and spotted with blackish, 2°80 x 1°75. This is a more northern species than Urinator imber, which it doubt- less closely resembles in habits. Famity ALcipz. AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS. This family contains about thirty species, confined entirely to the northern parts of the northern hemisphere. Nearly all of these are found in North America, most of them, however, on only our Pacific coast. Without exception they are maritime birds, passing the greater part of their lives on the open sea, They nest in colonies, sometimes in enormous numbers, generally upon rocky, precipitous shores. Their progress on land is slow and awkward; but they are, as a rule, strong fliers, and accomplished swimmers and divers. Unlike the Grebes and Loons they use their wings in diving. Their food consists of fish, crustacea, and other forms of sea life. KEY TO THE SPECIES. I. Billunder‘75 2... 2... 1 ee eee ee . 684 Doverie. I. Bill over 75. 1. Depth of bill at nostril over 60. a, Bill yellowish, depth at nostril over 1-00. 18. Purrin. 180. Larer-stntep Porrin. 8. Bill black, depth at nostril under 1:00 . . 82. Razor-BILLED AUK. 2. Depth of bill at nostril under -60. A, Wing-coverts white or tipped with white. a. Greater wing-coverts entirely white . 28. Manpr’s GuILLEMor. d. Basal half of greater wing-coverts black. 27. Brack GurtLemor. B. No white on wing-coverts. a Billoverl60 . 2... 1... 4... .°80. Murre. o. Billunder160 . ... . . . . . 81. Brtwnicu’s Murre. 13. Fratercula arctica (Zinn.). Purvi ; Sua Parror (see Fig. 5, c). Ad.—Upper parts, wings, tail, and foreneck blackish, browner on the head and foreneck ; nape with a narrow grayish collar; sides of the head and throat white, sometimes washed with grayish; breast and belly white. (Breeding birds have the bill larger and brighter, and a horny spine over the eye.) L., 13:00; W., 610; Tar., 1:05; B., 1:85; depth of B. at base (in winter), 1°50. Ztange.—* Coasts and islands of the North Atlantic, breeding on the North American coast from the Bay of Fundy northward” (A. 0. U.). Migrates southward in winter, rarely to Long Island, AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS. 61 Long Island, A. V. in winter. Nest in a burrow in the ground or in crevices among rocks. Zgg, one, dull white, sometimes with obscure markings, 2°49 x 1:68. Mr. Brewster, in describing his experience with this species in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, writes: “The first report of our guns brought dozens tumbling from their nests. Their manner of descending from the higher portions of the cliff was peculiar. Launching into the air with heads depressed and wings held stiffly at a sharp angle above their backs, they would shoot down like meteors, checking their speed by an upward turn just before reaching the water. In a few minutes scores had collected about us. They were perfectly silent and very tame, passing and repassing over and by us, often coming within ten or fif- teen yards. On such occasions their flight has a curious resemblance to that of a Woodcock, but when coming in from the fishing grounds they skim close to the waves, and the wings are moved more in the manner of a Duck” (Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., xxii, 1883, p. 407). 18a. F. a. glacialis (Zemm.). Larcr-zittep Purrin.—Similar to the preceding, but larger. W., 6:80-7:40; B., 2:00-2°30 (B., B., and R.). Range.—* Coast and islands of the Arctic Ocean from Spitzbergen to Battin’s Bay” (A. O. U.). The Turrep Purrin (12. Lunda cirrhata) inhabits the North Pacific from California to Alaska. The specimen figured by Audubon was said by him to have been procured at the mouth of the Kennebec River, Maine. There is no other record of its occurrence on the Atlantic coast. 27. Cepphus grylle (Linn.). Buack Guitiemor; Sua Prezon. Ad. in summer.—Sooty black, lighter below and with slight greenish reflections above; lesser wing-coverts and terminal half of the greater wing-coverts white, the basal half of the greater coverts black ; linings of the wings white. Ad. in winter.—Upper parts gray or black, the feathers all more or less tipped with white; wings as in summer; under parts white /m.—Upper parts as in winter adults; under parts white, mottled with black ; wing-coverts tipped with black. L., 13:00; W., 6-25; Tar., 1:25; B., 1-20. Range.—Breeds in North America from the Bay of Fundy (Grand Menan) northward, arfl migrates southward regularly to Cape Cod, and rarely to Con- necticut and Long Island; accidental in Pennsylvania. Long Island, A. V. in winter. Nest, in the crevices and fissures of cliffs and rocky places. Eggs, two to three, dull white, sometimes with u greenish tinge, more or less heavily spotted with clear and obscure dark chocolate markings, more numerous and sometimes confluent at the larger end. 2:18 x 1:40. “They were wary and alert, but allowed me to paddle within easy shooting distance without displaying much alarm. When they finally concluded I was an unsafe neighbor, they lost no time in getting out of sight, diving with surprising suddenness, They usually swam a 62 AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS. long distance under water with great rapidity, using their wings as well as their feet, and coming to the surface far beyond gunshot range. “The Sea Pigeons are met usually in small flocks of half a dozen or more, and generally feed in the open sea at the base of bold cliffs, When on the wing they proceed rapidly and in a straight line, and rarely more than a few feet from the surface of the water. On ap- proaching their nesting-site they rise rather abruptly, and fly directly to their nests” (Chamberlain), 28. Cepphus mandatii (Zicht.). Manpr’s Guirtemor—Resembles the preceding, but the bases of the greater wing-coverts are white instead of black. * Range—* Arctie regions of both continents” (A. O. U.); in America breeding from Labrador aud Hudson Bay northward, migrating southward as far as Massachusetts. Vest, in crevices and fissures of cliffs and rocky places. Zygs, two to three, not distinguishable trom those of C. grylle, 2°84 x 1°15. A more northern species than the preceding, which it doubtless re- sembles in habits. 30. Uria troile (Zinn.). Murr. Ad. in summer.—Upper parts, wings, tail, and neck all around, dark sooty brown, blacker on the back, wings, and tail; tips of secondaries, breast, and belly white, the sides more or less streaked with blackish. Ad. in winter and Jm.—Upper parts, wings, and tail much as in summer; under parts white, the throat more or less washed with sooty brown, the flanks sometimes streaked with brownish, and the feathers of the belly more or less lightly margined with blackish. L., 16:00; W., 8-00; Tar., 1-40; B., 1:75; depth of B. at nostril, -50. Remarks——Some specimens have a white ring around the eye and a white stripe behind it, They have been named J. ringvia (Briinn.), but it is un- certain as to whether the species is a distinct one or is based on a mere varia- tion of plumage, Range.—* Coasts and islands of the North Atlantic” (A. O.U.). In North America, breeding from Nova Scotia northward, and migrating southward as far as Massachusetts. Nests in communities, side by side on the bare ledges of soakey cliffs. Zgq, one, pyriform, varying from pale blue or greenish blue to whitish or buffy, singularly spotted, scrawled, or streaked with shades of chocolate, rarely un- marked, 3°25 x 2°00. “These birds begin to assemble on their customary cliffs in Eng- land early in May, and crowd together in such numbers that it is not uncommon to see hundreds sitting upon their eggs on the ledge of a rock, all in a line, and nearly touching each other” (Nuttall). “The bird usually sits facing the cliff, holding the egg between her legs, with its point outward; if robbed, she will lay at least one more, AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS. 63 similar in character. . . . Considerable force is exercised in diving, and the wings are used for propulsion under water” (Saunders). 31. Uria lomvia (Linn.). Brtnnicn’s Murr. Ad. in summer.— Upper parts, wings, and tail sooty black, foreneck somewhat browner; tips of secondaries, breast, and belly white; base of the upper mandible greenish, rounded outward beyond the edge of the lower mandible. L., 16:50; W., 840; Tar., 130; B., 1:25; depth of B. at nostril, -47. ftemarks.— Adults are to be distinguished from adults of U. troile by the darker color of the head, which in lomvia is darker than the throat, by the size of the bill and thickening of its cutting edge at the base. Winter and immature birds can be distinguished from those of U. érotle only by the size of the bill, which, as the measurements show, is longer in that species. Range—* Coasts and islands of the North Atlantic and eastern Arctic Oceans” (A. O. U.). Breeds from the Magdalen Islands northward; in win- ter migrates us far south as New Jersey. Long Island, irregular W. V. Sing Sing, A. V. Nests in communities, side by side on the bare ledges of rocky clitts. Zyg, one, not distinguishable from that of UW. troile. “During the winter it lives on the open sea, and in the breeding season assembles in large flocks on bold cliffs and rocky headlands. It is an expert diver, using wings and feet to get under water and to swim through it” (Chamberlain). 32. Alcea torda Zinn. Razor-zittep AuK; Tinxer. Ad. in sum- mer.—Upper parts, wings, and tail sooty black; foreneck somewhat browner; tips of the secondaries, a line from the eye to the bill, breast, and belly white; bill black, crossed by a white band. Ad. in winter.—Similar to ad. in the summer, but with the sides and front of the neck white. /m.—Similar to ad. in winter, but with the bill smaller and without the white bar. L., 16°50; W., 7:90; Tar., 1:35; B., 1:25. Range.— Coasts and islands of the North Atlantic” (A. 0. U.). Breeds from the Magdalen Islands northward ; in winter migrates southward regu- larly to Long Island and rarely to Virginia and North Carolina. Long Island, irregular W. V. Vest, in the crevices and fissures of cliffs and rocky places. Zgqs, one to two, pale bluish white or buffy, thickly spotted and speckled with chocolate markings most numerous and sometimes confluent at the larger end, 3:00 x 1-90. “When brooding, it crouches along, not across, the egg, its mate often standing near; and both sexes incubate, though the male may be seen bringing food to the sitting female. ... The young flutter from the rocks to the sea, or are taken by the neck and carried down by the parents. They are at first very loath to follow the old bird in diving, and remain crying plaintively on the surface of the water. The food consists of small fish, which are carried diagonally in the bill —not at right angles, as by the Puffin—and crustaceans. The Razor- 64 AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS. bill utters a peculiar grunting or groaning, especially when sitting. On the water it may be distinguished from the Guillemot, at a dis- tance, by its upturned tail” (Saunders). 33. Plautus impennis (Zinn.). Great Aux.—Upper parts fuscous black, a large white spot before the eye; secondaries tipped with white; sides of the neck and throat seal-brown, rest of the under parts silvery white. L., 28-00-80:00 ; W., 5°75; B., 8°15-3'50; greatest depth of B., 1:50 (Ridgw.). Range.—* Formerly the coasts and islands of the North Atlantic, from Massachusetts and Ireland northward nearly to the Arctic Circle” (A. O. U.). Now extinct. Egg, pyriform-ovate, pale olive buffy, variously marked with brown and black, 4:67 x 2°91 (Ridgw.). The Great Auk was flightless. Like other birds of this family, it frequented certain localities in large numbers each year to breed. Early voyagers and fishermen visited its nesting grounds, killing the helpless birds in enormous numbers for their flesh, feathers, and oil. The result was extinction, and no living Great, Auk has been observed since 1842. About seventy specimens are known to be preserved in collections. (See Lucas, Rep. Smith. Inst., 1891, pp. 688-641.) 34. Alle alle (Zinn.). Dovexir; Sra Dovz. Ad. in summer—vUpper parts, wings, and tail sooty black; sides and front of the neck and upper breast somewhat browner; secondaries tipped and scapulars streaked with white; lower breast and belly white. Ad. in winter and /m.—Similar to the above, but throat whiter or washed with dusky, and sometimes a gray collar on the nape. L., 8:00; W., 450; Tar., 70; B., -50. Range.— Coasts and islands of the North Atlantic and eastern Arctic Oceans” (A. 0.U.). Breeds from latitude 69° northward ; in winter migrates southward, rarely to Long Island and New Jersey ; accidental in Pennsylva- nia and Virginia. Long Island, irregular W. V. Sing Sing, A. V. Nest, on the ledges and in the crevices of rocky cliffs. yg, one, pale bluish white, 1:85 x 1:27. “ On the approach of a vessel this bird has a peculiar way of splash- ing along the surface of the water, as if unable to fly, and then diving through the crest of an advancing wave; it swims rather deep and very much ‘by the stern.’ . . .” (Saunders). “Its wings are small, but they are moved almost as rapidly as a Hummingbird’s, and propel the bird through the air with great rapid- ity. This bird is an expert diver too, and, though awkward on land, swims with ease and grace. . . .” (Chamberlain). JAEGERS AND SKUAS. 65 YRDER LONGIPENNES. LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS. FAMILY STERCORARIIDA, JAEGERS AND SKUAS. Two of the six known members of this family are found in the antarctic regions, while the remaining four inhabit the northern parts of the northern hemisphere. Except during the nesting season, the Jaegers are as a rule pelagic, though they sometimes visit large bodies of water inland. They generally obtain their food by robbing Gulls and Terns, and have been well named the Hawks of the sea. Their greater power of flight enables them to successfully pursue these birds and force them to disgorge their recently captured prey. KEY TO THE SPECIES, A. Bill over 1:35; tarsus over 1°70; middle tail-feathers never pointed. a. Bill over 1:90 gncBhente Gap tna hep te SRG Uae . . . . 85. Skva. b. Billunder190. . . . ik 36. PomaninE JAEGER. BZ. Bill under 1:35; tarsus under 1° 70; ‘middle tail-feathers generally pointed. a. Sealy shield on the bill longer than the distance from its end to the tip ofthe bill. . . . . » 8% Parasitic JAEGER. 6, Scaly shield on the pill ger ke than ine distance from its end to the tip ofthe bill . . 1... . ee es.) . 688, Lone-TarLep JAEGER. 35. Megalestris skua (Briinn.). Sxua. Ad.—Upper parts, tail, and wings dark, dirty brown; shafts of the wing and tail-feathers white, except at the tip; outer wing-feathers with inner vanes white at the base ; under parts somewhat lighter; neck more or less streaked with whitish. Jm.— Similar to adult, but more distinctly streaked with yellowish, especially on the head and neck.” L., 22:00; W., 15-91; Tar., 2°63; B., 2°06 (Ridgw.). Range.—* Coast and islands of the North Atlantic, chiefly northward. South to Spain and Massachusetts. Apparently rare off the coast of North America” (A. O. U.). Long Island, A. V., one record. West, on rocky cliffs. Eggs, two, pale olive-brown or greenish gray spot- ted with chocolate, 2°80 x 1:90. 36. Stercorarius pomarinus (Zemm.). Pomarine Jarcer. Ad., light phase.—Very similar in color to corresponding phase of 9. parasiticus, but with the upper parts darker, nearly black. Ad., dark phase and Im— Similar in color to corresponding stages of S. parasiticus. L., 22:00; W., 18°50; T., Ad., 8°00, Im., 5-40; Tar., 2:00; B., 1:55. Remarks.—This species is to be distinguished from the two following by its larger size and the rounded ends of its central tail-feathers. Range.‘ Resident during the summer in high northern latitudes, chiefly within the Arctic Circle, and extending from Siberia in eastern Asia entirely around the zone” (B., B., and R.). Migrates southward along the Atlantic 6 66 JAEGERS AND SKUAS. coast, and more rarely through the Great Lakes, and winters from Long Island southward. Long Island, regular from June 15 to Oct. 80. Sing Sing, A. V. Nest, on the ground. Zggs, two to three, deep olive-drab sparingly spot- ted with slate color, and light and dark raw-umber markings and black dots, chiefly at the larger end, where they become confluent, 2°25 x 1:70 (Brewer). 87. Stercorarius parasiticus (Zinn.). Parasitic JAncER (see vig. 6,4). Ad., ight phase—Back, wings, and tail slaty fuscous; top of the head and lores nearly black; sides of the head and back of the neck straw- yellow, this color sometimes spreading down the sides of the neck and on the throat; breast and belly white; sides of the breast, flanks, lower belly, and crissum slaty fuscous; tarsi and feet (in dried specimens) black; middle tail-feathers pointed and extending about 3:00 beyond the others. Ad., dark phase.—Entire plumage dark, slaty brown, darker on the top of the head; _under parts slightly lighter; sometimes a trace of straw-yellow on the sides and back of the neck; tarsi, feet, and tail as in the preceding. Jm., light phase.—Upper parts, wings, and tail fuscous; the feathers of the back, neck, and head more or less bordered, tipped, or barred with buffy; hind-neck and head sometimes buffy, streaked or barred with fuscous, and varying from this color to plain fuscous; longer, lateral upper tail-coverts barred with buffy ; tail butty, whitish at the base; under wing-coverts barred with buffy ; under parts white, washed with buffy, and irregularly barred with sooty fuscous; these bars sometimes very numerous when the under parts looked as if washed with sooty fuscous; again, they may be less numerous and con- fined to the breast and sides, leaving the belly white; central tail-feathers pointed, projecting more or less beyond the rest. Jm., dark phase-—Sooty fus- cous, the feathers, particularly on the under parts, more or less marked with ochraceous-buff. L., 17:00; W., 18-00: T., Ad., 8:60, Im., 6-40; B., 1:15. Remarks.—This species closely resembles 8. ongicaudus. Adults of’ both species, whether in the dark or light phase of plumage, may always be dis- tinguished from each other by the difference in the length of their central tail-feathers, in addition to the characters given in the key. Young birds can not be distinguished by color, but may be identificd by the differences in relative proportions of the bill. Range.— Northern parts of the northern hemisphere, southward in win- ter to South Africa and South America” (A. O. U.). In America breeds in the Barren Grounds and Greenland ; migrates southward through the Great Lakes and along the Atlantic coasts, and winters from the Middle States southward. Long Island, regular from June 15 to Oct. 80. Vest, on the moors or tundras, a slight depression in the ground scantily lined with grasses, etc., or on rocks by the sea. Eggs, two to four, light olive- brown, with frequently a strong greenish tinge and chocolate markings, more numerous and sometimes confluent at the larger end, 2:25 x 1°65. 88. Stercorarius longicaudus Vicill. Lone-ramep Jarczr. Ad., light phase.—Back, wings, and tail slaty fuscous; top of head and lores nearly black; sides of the head, back and sides of the neck straw-yellow; GULLS. 67 throat sometimes washed with the same color; under parts white; sides, lower belly, and crissum slaty fuscous; central tail-feathers extending about 7-00 beyond the others, the projecting ends narrow and pointed. (No dark phase of this species has been described.) Jm.—Similar in plumage to im, of S. parasiticus, but differing otherwise as pointed out under that species. L., 21°00; W., 12°50; T., Ad., 12°00, Im., 5°50; B., 1-08. Range—Northern part of the northern hemisphere; in America nests in Greenland and quite abundantly “along the Anderson, in the ‘ Barrens, and also on the arctic coast” (Macfarlane); migrates southward along the coasts, and rarely through the Great Lakes, to the Gulf of Mexico and West Indies. Nest, a slight depression in the ground, sometimes scantily lined with grasses. Eggs, two to three, similar in color to those of the preceding, 2°10 x 1:50. Famity Larip&. GULLS AND TERNS. This family contains about one hundred species divided equally between the subfamily Larine (Gulls) and subfamily Sternine (Terns). They are distributed throughout the world. Some forty species in- habit North America. With few exceptions they agree in possessing the marked characters of their respective subfamilies, under which they may be more conveniently treated. Subfamily Larine. Gulls. Generally speaking, Gulls are maritime and pelagic, though some species are found inland. As compared with Terns, Gulls are less graceful and active on the wing. In flight the bill points forward in the plane of the body, not downward toward the earth, as in the Terns. They procure their food largely by picking it from the surface of the water or land with their strongly hooked bills, not by plunging or darting, as do the Terns. Some of the speci¢s are true birds of prey, and feed on small mammals and the eggs and young of other birds. Gulls are better swimmers than Terns, and pass much time resting on the water. They nest in colonies, generally on the ground, sometimes on rocky ledges, and rarely in trees. KEY TO THE SPECIES. I. Wing over 15:00. A, Back dark slaty black. . . . © . . 4%. Buack-BAcKED GULL. B. Back pearl-gray. a. Outer primaries marked with black. ' 51a. Am. Herrine Gout. 51. Herrine Gut. b. No black on primaries. 61, Bill under 2:00. 62, Primaries ee eae sapies gradually into white at their tips - .. . . « 48. IcELAND GULL. 68 GULLS. 3, Primaries pearl-gray, tipped with white, and with well-defined gray spaces on the outer webs of the two outer primaries and on both webs of the third and fourth primaries. 45. Kumuren’s Guu. oa, Billover200 ... + . « 42 Giaucous GuLL, ¢. Back grayish, whitish, or ibesiidh, or regttledl or spotted with gray- ish or brownish. uw. Tail black or blackish, with or without irregular white markings. a, Wing over 17°50; depth of bill at nostril over 70. 47. Buack-BackEeD GuLt (Im.). a, Wing under 17°50; depth of bill at nostril under -70. 5la. Am. Herrine Guit (Im.). 51. Herrine Gort (Im.). 6. Tail white or whitish or grayish brown, with or without black markings. 6). Billunder 2:00 . . iy ie . . 48. IcELanp Gott (Im.). b2, Billover 200... . . . . . . .42 Guavcous Guu (Im). Il. Wing under 15-00. 1. Tail pure white. A. Head and throat slaty black. a. Outer primary black or mostly black. a}, Outer primary entirely black . . .-. 58, Lavenine Gotz. a, Inner half of inner webs of first primary white. eg 62. Saprne’s Gut. 6. Outer primary mostly white. 1, Tip of first primary white . . . . . 59. FRANKLIN’s GuLt. 62, Tip of first primary black . . . 60. Bonararte’s Guuu, B. Head white, sometimes washed with esa a. Wings white .... - + . . 89. Ivory GuLL. 6. Primaries with more or jay ibleek, &1, Wing over 11:00. 02, Hind toe very small, without a nail . . . 40, Kirrrwaxe. 68. Hind toe normal, with anail. . . 54, Rine-Bittep Gut. et. Wing under 1100... . . . . . . . . 61. Ross's Guu. 2. Tail marked with black. A. Wing over 13°25. a, Primaries mostly white . . . , . . 89. Ivory Gort (Im.). 6. Primaries black or mostly black . Bd, Riracemen Gut (Im.). B. Wing under 18°25. a. Hind toe very small, without a nail . . . 40. Kirrrwaxe (Im.). ‘6, Hind toe normal, with a nail. &. Tarsus 1:50 orover . . . . . . 58. Lavanine Gui (Im.). a, Tarsus under 1:50. <2, Secondaries pearl color, tail square. 60. Bonaparre’s Guu (Im.). ¢. Secondaries mostly white, tail rounded. 61. Ross’s Guux (Im.). 39. Gavia alba (Gunn.). Ivory Guit. Ad.—Entire plumage pure white; bill yellow, feet black. Jm.—Similar to ad., but the wing and tail GULLS, 69 feathers, and sometimes the wing-coverts, with a black spot at their tips. L., 17-00; W., 18°25; T., 5:50; B., 1:35. Range— Arctic seas, south in winter on the Atlantic coast of North America to Labrador and Newfoundland, casually to New Brunswick, and on the Pacific side to Bering Sea” (A. O. U.). Long Island, A. V., one record. Nest, of grass, moss, and feathers on rocky cliffs. Zygs, light yellowish olive, marked with small blotches of brown and larger cloudings of lilac, 2°45 x 1:70 (Brewer). “The Ivory Gulls appear to spend most of the time amid the pack- ice, often at a long distance from land” (Chamberlain). Fig. 60.—First. primaries of adult Gulls, seen from below: (a) Am. Herring Gull; (b) Ring-billed Gull ; (c) Laughing Gull ; (d) Franklin’s Gull; (e) Bona- parte’s Gull. ¢ 40. Rissa tridactyla (Linn.). Kirrrwaxs. Ad. in summer—Head, neck, tail, and under parts pure white; back and wings pearl-gray ; outer web of first primary and 38-00 of the ends of first and second primaries black ; 40 GULLS. third to fifth primaries black at the ends and with white tips; hind toe very small, a mere knob without a nail ; bill yellowish, feet black. Ad. in winter. —Similar to above, but the top of the head and back of the neck washed with pearl-gray, and a dark spot about the eye. /m.—Similar to winter adults, but with the back of the neck, lesser wing-coverts, and part of the tertials black ; tail, except outer pair of feathers, with a black band at its tip; four outer primaries black, except the inner half or more of their inner webs; fifth and sixth tipped with black and white; bill black, feet yellowish. L., 16-00; W., 12:00; T., 4:50; B., 1:30. Hemarks.—This species can always be distinguished by the small size of the hind toe. Range.—Northern parts of the northern hemisphere; in America, breed- ing commonly from the Magdalen Islands northward, and wintering as far south as the Great Lakes in the interior, and, on the coast, commonly to Long Island, and rarely to Virginia. Long Island, common T. V., a few winter, Nov. to Mch. West, of grass, moss, and seaweed on the ledges of rocky cliffs. Zygs, three to four, varying from shades of buffy to grayish brown, distinctly and obscurely marked with chocolate, 2°25 x 1°60. “Our bird differs but little in its habits from other oceanic Gulls, Feeding chiefly on fish, but accepting any diet that drifts within range of its keen sight; drinking salt water in preference to fresh; breasting a gale with ease and grace—soaring in midair, skimming close above the crested waves, or swooping into the trough for a coveted morsel; resting upon the rolling billows, and sleeping serenely as they roll, with head tucked snugly under a wing; wandering in loose flocks, and making comrades of other wanderers; devoted to mate and young, and attached to all its kin—wherever seen or however employed, the Kittiwake is revealed as a typical gleaner of the sea. “The name is derived from the bird’s singular cry, which resembles the syllables Aitti-aa, kitti-aa” (Chamberlain). 42. Larus glaucus Brinn. Guiavcous Gutt; Burcomasrer. Ad. in summer.—Back and wings pale pearl-gray ; primaries lightly tinted with pearl, inner half of their inner webs and tips fading gradually into white; rest of the plumage pure white. Ad. in winter._Similar to the above, but with the head and neck lightly streaked with grayish. Jm.—Upper parts varying from ashy gray to white, the feathers widely barred, mottled, or streaked with buffy or ashy gray; primaries varying from pale smoky gray to pure white; tail ashy or brownish gray; under parts varying from dirty whitish to ashy gray, generally darker on the belly, sometimes mottled with buffy or grayish. (Birds of the second year are said to be pure white.) L., 28:00; W., 17°10; B., 2°85; depth of B. at projection on the lower mandible, “75 to 1:00; Tar., 2°60. Range.—Northern parts of the northern hemisphere; in North America breeding commonly from southern Labrador northward and migrating south- ward to the Great Lakes and Long Island. GULLS. "1 Long Island, irregular W. V. Vest, of grasses, moss, etc.,on the ground. Zygs, two to three, varying from pale olive-brown to grayish white, spotted or speckled with shades of chocolate, 3°10 x 2°20. Mr. Chamberlain remarks that this species combines “ with some gull-like traits many of the coarse characteristics of both Falcon and Vulture.” “Some observers have reported that flocks are at times very noisy, particularly when settling for the night; but those I have met with in winter have been rather silent. Their cry is harsh and at times very loud; it sounds something like the syllables kuk-lak. I have seen it written cut-leek,” 43. Larus leucopterus Futer. Icrranp Guiz. Resembles the preceding species in color, but generally is much smaller; specimens occur, however, which appear to be intermediate. W., 15°-40-16°50; B., 1:65-1:90; depth of B. at projection on the lower mandible, ‘60-70; Tar., 2°05-2-20 (B., B., aud B.). . Range.—Arctic regions; in North America migrates south in winter, rarely to Long Island. Long Island, A. V. in winter. Vest, of grasses, moss, etc., on the ground. Zygs, clay-color with numerous chocolate markings, 2°79 x 1:89. “The flight of the Iceland Gull, its feeding habits. and its manners generally, suggest a close affinity to the Herring Gull rather than to the Burgomaster” (Chamberlain). 45. Larus kumlieni Zrewst. Kumuien’s Guz. Very similar in gen- eral color to the two preceding species, but differs from them in the color of the primaries. These, instead of being uniformly pure white or but lightly tinted with gray, are marked with sharply defined spaces of ashy gray. The first primary is tipped with white and marked with ashy gray on the outer web and shaft part of the inner web; the second primary is ashy gray on only part of the outer web; the third and fourth primaries have smaller white tips aud are marked with ashy gray near their ends on both webs. W., 15°50- 17:00; B., 1:65-1:88; depth of B. at projection on the lower mandible, ‘60-66 ; Tar., 2:10-2:35 (Brewster). Range.—North Atlantic coast of North America; south in winter to Massachusetts. West, on “ the shélving rocks of high cliffs.” “Mr. Kumlien found this bird breeding in considerable numbers near the head of Cumberland Gulf,” but, owing to the difficulty of distinguishing immature specimens from those of ZL. lewcopterus, its status on our coast in winter is not clearly determined. 47. Larus marinus Zinn. Great Buack-BackepD GULL; SADDLE- Back. Ad. in summer.—Back and wings slaty black; wing-feathers tipped "9 GULLS. with white; rest of plumage white; tail sometimes mottled with dusky. Ad. in winter.—Similar to the above, but with the head and neck streaked with grayish. /m—Head and nape whitish, streaked with grayish; back and wings, except primaries, brownish, the feathers margined and irregularly marked with pale buffy ; primaries dark brownish black, the inner ones with small white tips; tail mottled with black and white; under parts whitish, more or less streaked or barred with grayish. L., 8 W., 18°50; T., 8:00; B., 2°50. ange.—North Atlantic; breeds in North America from the Bay of Fundy northward; migrates southward in winter regularly to the Great Lakes and Virginia, and less frequently to South Carolina. Long Island, common W. V., Sept. to Apl. West, of grasses, seaweed, etc., on the ground. gs, two to three, clay- color, brownish ashy or buffy, rather evenly spotted with chocolate, 3:00 x 2°15. A more northern species than the Herring Gull. Mr. Brewster, who observed it in numbers in the island of Anticosti in July, writes: “ The Black-backs are exceedingly noisy birds, especially when their young are in danger, as well as toward evening. . . . I identified four distinct cries: a braying ha-ha-ha, a deep keow, keow, a short barking note, and a long-drawn groan, very loud and decidedly impressive... . At all times of the year, during the breeding season as well as in win- ter, it is by far the wariest bird that I have ever met.” The Srpzrian Guii (60. Larus afinis)—a large Gull inhabiting north- ern Asia—is sometimes found in Greenland. 5la. Larus argentatus smithsonianus Cowes. American Her- RING GuLL. Ad. in summer.—Back and wings deep pearl-gray ; first primary tipped with white, then crossed by a small black mark, then a much larger white one; this is followed by a black space; the black runs down the outer web of the feather to near its base and the shaft part of the inner web nearly as far, leaving the inner two thirds of the web below the black mark white (Fig. 60, a); the second primary is similar, but the second white mark is a round spot on the inner web and the black occupies a greater space near the tip, but does not continue so far down on the feather; the third to sixth primaries are tipped with white, which is succeeded by a gradually dimin- ishing black band which extends farther down on the outer web of the feather than on the inner; the rest of the plumage is pure white. Ad. in winter.— Similar to the above, but with the head and neck streaked or spotted with grayish. Jm.—Upper parts ashy fuscous; head and nape more or less streaked with pale buffy; back and wings margined or irregularly marked with the sume color; primaries brownish black; tail the same, sometimes tipped or margined with buffy; under parts ashy fuscous, sometimes lightly barred or streaked. L., 24:00; W., 17:50; T., 7°50; B., 2°30. ange.— North America generally, breeding on the Atlantic coast from Maine northward” (A. 0. U.). In the interior breeds from Minnesota north- ward ; winters from Nova Scotia to Cuba, GULLS, "3 Washington, common W. V., Uct.to Mch. Long Island, abundant W. V., Sept. to May, a few in summer. Sing Sing, common T. V., Sept. 21 to May 9; common W. V. when river is open. Cambridge, abundant W. V., Nov. to Apl. Nest, of grusses, moss, seaweed, etc., on the ground, but, where the birds have been persistently robbed, it is more compactly built and placed in trees, sometimes fifty feet or more from the ground. Zygs, two to three, grayish olive-brown, rarely wAitish, spotted, blotched, and scrawled with distinct and obscure chocolate markings, 2°85 x 1-90. This species is by far the most abundant winter Gull along the coasts of the Middle and Southern States. Unlike the more pelagic species, it frequents our rivers and harbors, feeding about piers and wharves, and near the cities showing comparatively little fear of man. Sometimes one may see them “bedded” in flocks on the water, where they alight to rest. It is generally this species which follows in the wake of our coastwise vessels, sailing astern, when the wind is from ahead, without the slightest perceptible movement of the wings. (For an interesting life-history of the Herring Gull see Mackay, Auk, ix, 1892, pp. 221-228.) The European Herrine Guz (51. Larus argentatus) differs from our species in being slightly smaller and in having the two white spaces at the tip of the first primary joined, the black spot, therefore, being broken or entirely absent. It is of rare occurrence on the Atlantic coast of North America, 54. Larus delawarensis Ord. Rine-zirtep Gui. Ad. in sum- mer.—Back and wings pearl-gray ; first primary black, with a white spot near the tip, the base of the inner half of the inner web pearl-gray (Fig. 60, 5); second primary black, the basal half of the inner web pearl-gray; on the third to sixth primaries the black decreases rapidly, and each one is tipped with white; rest of the plumage pure white; bill greenish yellow with a black band in front of the nostril. Ad. in winter—Similar to the above, but the head and nape streaked with grayish. Jm.—Upper parts varying from ashy fuscous, the feathers margined with whitish, to pearl-gray, the feathers more or less mottled, spotted, or, on the head and neck, streaked with ashy fus- cous; outer primaries black, tail varying from pearl-gray, more or less mottled with blackish, to white, and crossed near the end by a wide band of black ; basal half of the bill yellowish, end black. L., 18:50; W., 14:00; T., 6:00; B., 1°60. Range.—North America, more common in the interior; breeds from southern Minnesota and Newfoundland northward ; winters from Long Island to Cuba and Mexico. : Washington, very common T. V., Feb. to Apl. 5; Oct. to Nov.; rare in winter. Long Island, common W. V., Aug. to Apl. Sing Sing, casual T. V. Nest, of grasses, etc., on the ground. Zyqe, two to three, clay-color, buffy, or whitish, rather evenly spotted with chocolate, 2'30 x 1:65. n4 GULLS. The coast-inhabiting individuals of this species resemble the Her- ring Gull in habits, and are not easily identifiable from that species unless the two be seen together, when the smaller size of the Ring-bill is noticeable. In the interior, where the species is locally common, it feeds on insects, which it catches both on the ground and in the air, The Mew Gut (56. Larus canus)—a European spéties—has been found once in Labrador. 58. Larus atricilla Zinn. Lavenine Guit; Bracn-vEApED GuLL. (See Fig. 6,0.) Ad. in summer.—Back and wings dark pearl-gray ; primaries black, the inner ones with small white tips (Fig. 60, ¢); whole head and throat deep slate-color; rest of the plumage, including the nape, pure white, the breast sometimes suffused by a delicate peach-blossom tint; bill dark red- dish, brighter at the tip. Ad. in winter—Resembles the above, but has the head and throat white, the crown and sides of the head and sometimes the nape spotted or streaked with grayish. /m.—Upper parts light ashy fuscous, the feathers margined with whitish ; primaries black; forehead and under parts white, sometimes washed in places with dusky; tail dark pearl-gray, broadly tipped with black. L., 16°50; W., 12°50; T., 4:90; B., 1°65. Range.—Breeds from Texas and Florida to Maine; rare in the interior; winters from South Carolina to northern South America. Washington, irregular in fall. Long Island, rare 8. R., irregular T. V., Apl. to Sept. Nest, of grasses, seaweed, etc., on the ground in grassy marshes. Lge, three to five, varying from grayish olive-brown to greenish gray, spotted, blotched, and scrawled with chocolate, 215 x 1-55. “From the hoarse clatter of the Terns one could distinguish its long-drawn, clear note on a high key, sounding not unlike the more excited call-note of the Domestic Goose; and every now and then it would give its prolonged, weird laughter, which has given rise to its common name. To one who has heard it, it might be imitated by the syllables hah-ha-ha-ha-ha, hah-hah-hah, all of which are uttered on a high, clear tone, the last three or four syllables, and especially the last one, being drawn out with peculiar and prolonged effect, the whole sounding like the odd and excited laughter of an Indian squaw, and giving marked propriety to the name of the bird” (Langille). 59. Larus franklini Sw. and Rich. Franxiin’s Gui. Ad. in sum- mer.— Whole head and throat sooty black, nape, sides of the neck, and under parts, except throat, white, generally suffused (in fresh specimens) with an exquisite peach-blossom tint; tail white; back and wings pearl-gray ; tirst primary white, the outer web black, except at the tip, the shaft part of the inner web grayish on the basal half (Fig. 60, @); second primary white, with a black mark on the inner web and a black stripe on the outer web near the tip, the rest of the outer web and shaft part of the inner web pearl-gray ; third GULLS. Q5 to sixth primaries tipped with white, then banded with gradually diminishing bars of black, which are succeeded by a whitish space, while the rest of the feather is pearl-gray ; bill dark coral-red. Ad. in winter.—‘ Similar, but head and neck white, the occiput, with orbital and auricular regions, grayish dusky ; bill and feet dusky, the former tipped with orange reddish.” Young, jirst plumage.— Top and sides of the head (except forehead and lores), back and scapulars grayish brown, the longer scapulars bordered terminally with pale grayish buff; wingoverts bluish gray tinged with grayish brown; seconda- ries dusky, edged with pale grayish blue and broadly tipped with white; pri- maries dusky, the inner more plumbeous, all broadly tipped with white. Central portion of the rump uniform light bluish gray ; lateral and posterior portions of the rump, upper tail-coverts, entire lower parts, forehead, lores, and eyelids white. Bill brownish, dusky terminally ; feet brown (in skin).” W., 11:25; B., 1:30; depth through nostrils, -35; Tar., 1-60 (B., B., and R.). ange. Breeds from southern Minnesota and Dakota northward ; win- ters in the Southern States, and migrates principally west of the Mississippi River” (Cooke and Merriam). Not found on the Atlantic coast. Nest, of grasses, etc., in reedy or bush-grown marshes. gs, one to three, varying. from dark chocolate to creamy brown and sooty white, irregularly marked with smal] spots or large blotches of umber, and with obsolete lilac shell markings, 2°12 x 1:40 (Preston). This inland species reaches our western limits. An excellent ac- count of its habits, by J. W. Preston, will be found in the Ornitholo- gist and Odlogist, xi, pp. 54, 55. 60. Larus philadelphia (Ord). Bonararts’s Guu. Ad. in summer. —Whole head and throat dark, sooty slate-color; nape and sides of the neck, under parts, except throat, and tail white; back and wings pearl-gray ; first primary, seen from above, white, the outer web and tip black (Fig. 60, ¢); second and third primaries white, tipped with black; third to sixth primaries with small whitish tips, then large black spaces, the rest of the feather white or pearl-gray ; bill black. Ad. in winter._Similar to the preceding, but head and throat white, the back and sides of the head washed with grayish. Jm. —Top of the head and nape and a spot on the auriculars more or less washed with grayish ; back varying from brownish gray to pearl-gray ; lesser wing- coverts grayish brown, secondaries mostly pearl-gray ; first primary with the outer web, tip, and most of the shaft part of the inner web black; inner mar- gin of the inner web at the end of the feather narrowly bordered with black ; second and third primaries much the same, but with slightly more black at the ends; tail white, banded with black and narrowly tipped with white; ; under parts white. L., 14-00; W., 10°30; T., 4°00; B., 1°15. ftange.—Breeds from Manitoba northward; apparently no record of its breeding on the Atlantic coast; winters southward to the Gulf of Mexico. Washington, common T. V.,Mch. to May 5; Oct.and Nov. Long Island, common T. V., a few winter, Oct. to Apl. Sing Sing, rather rare T. V., Apl. and Oct. Nest, of sticks lined with grasses, etc., on stumps, in bushes or trees four "6 TERNS. to twenty feet from the ground. Zygs, three to four, grayish olive with a greenish tint and small clove-brown spots, chiefly about the larger end, 1-97 x 1-40 (B., B., and R.). “The flight is easy and graceful, each stroke of the long, pointed wings throwing the body up a little, while the bird peers this way and that in quest of its small prey. If it fly toward one, the white front of its wings, added to its white breast and neck, gives it the appear- ance of a white bird with a black head. It often has a noticeable way of turning partly around or cutting backward as it drops in securing some object detected on or near the surface of the water, thus making it appear decidedly lithe and agile on the wing” (Langille). The Lirrte Guit (60-1. Larus minutus), a European species, has been taken only once in America—on Long Island, in September, 1887 (Dutcher, Auk, v, 1888, p. 171). Ross’s GuLu (61. Rhodostethia rosea), an arctic species, is known from Point Barrow, Alaska; Melville Peninsula; England, Faroes, and Heligoland ; but has been found in numbers only at the first-mentioned locality. (See Murdoch, Rep. of the Exp. to Point Barrow, p. 123.) 62. Xema sabinii (Sad.). Sazine’s Guit. Ad. in summer.—Whole head and throat slate-color, bordered posteriorly by black; back and sides of the neck, under parts, except throat, and slightly forked tail pure white; back and wings dark pearl-gray ; secondaries tipped with white ; first primary black, the inner half of the inner web, except at the end, white; second to fourth primaries similar, but tipped with white; bill black, the end yellow. Ad. in winter— Similar to the summer plumage, but the head and neck white, except occiput, nape, and auricular region, which are dull, dusky plumbeous” (B., B., and R.). /m.—Forehead and lores white, rest of the upper parts ashy brown, the feathers slightly tipped with whitish ; tail white, broadly tipped with blackish; under parts white. L., 1400; W., 10:50; T., 450; B., 95. Range.—Arctic regions, in winter migrating only a short distance south- ward and rarely reaching the United States, Long Island, A. V., one record. Nest, of grasses, etc., on the ground. Eggs, two to five, deep olive (vary- ing in intensity, however), rather indistinctly spotted or blotched with brown, 1-78 x 1:26 (Ridgw.). This boreal species is of rare occurrence in the northern United States in the winter. Subfamily Sternine. Terns, Terns are littoral ; never, I believe, pelagic. They inhabit the shores of bodies of both fresh and salt water, but are more abundant on the seacoast than in the interior. Their principal characters, as compared with the Gulls, are mentioned under the subfamily Zarinw. Their a TERNS. "7 power of flight has deservedly won for them the name of Sea Swal- lows. They capture their prey of small fish by plunging into the water, frequently disappearing and swimming a few feet beneath the surface. They nest in colonies. The nest is usually on the ground. Generally it is simply a slight depression in the sand, shells, or pebbles of a beach, or in the near-by seaweed, moss, or grasses. Sometimes it is scantily lined with bits of grass, seaweed, moss, etc., but these are frequently wanting. * KEY TO THE SPECIES, I. Wing under 13:00. 1. Entire top of the head jet-black. A. Bill black, or mostly black. u. Feet black or blackish. a1, Under parts black or blackish . . . . . . 7% Brack Tern. a?, Under parts white; bill black . . . . 638. GuLi-BiLLep TzRy. a8. Under parts white; bill black, broadly tipped with yellow. 67. Cazpor’s TERN. 6, Feet yellowish or orange. bt. Outer tail-feathers pure white; outer web of first primary black. 72. Roseate TERN. 22, Inner web of outer tail-feather gray; outer web of first primary gray 2. we ee ee ee ee ee . 669, Forster's Tern. B. Bill mostly or entirely yellowish, reddish, brownish, or orange. a. Under parts tinged with grayish; outer web of outer tail-feather gray; inner web white. a1. Bill broadly tipped with blackish ; tarsus generally over -70. 70. Common TERN. a?. Bill without a distinct black tip; tarsus generally under °70. 71. Arctic TERN. b. Under parts pure white; inner web of outer tail-feather gray ; outer web white... .. soe ee es . . 69. ForsTEer’s TERN. 2. Forehead white; lores black; crown jet-black. A. Wing under 8:00; back pearl-gray. . . . . . . 74, Least TERN. B. Wing over 8:00; back grayish brown or blackish. a. Back grayish brown; a white stripe from the forehead over the eye. 76. BripLep TERN. 6. Back blackish ; white of forehead not reaching over the eye. 75. Soory TERN. 8. Forehead or crown white or grayish, sometimes speckled with black; lores not entirely black. A, Wing pearl-gray, over 9:00. uw. Outer tail-feather entirely pure white. a, Bill over 1°75, tipped with yellowish . . . 67. Casor’s Tern. a2, Bill under 1°75, without a yellow tip . 72. Roszare Tern (Im.). b. Outer tail-feather not pure white. 1, Inner web of outer tail-feather darker than outer web; outer web 48 TERNS. mostly or entirely white; a black space generally on the side of the head inclosing the eye . 69. Forsrer’s TERN (Im.). 22. Outer web of outer tail-feather darker than inner web; tarsus over‘70 .... . 70. Common ‘femme (Im.). 68. Outer web of onitee tail- seottier darker than inner web; tarsus under ‘70 . . Betas & eG 71. ARcTIO Tae (Im.). B. Wing blackish, over ro: 00. a. Under parts blackish. . . b. Under parts white... . . 46. Briptep Tzrn (Im.). 4. Crown silvery gray ; lores black ; rest of plumage sooty . 79. Noppy. Cc. Wing under 9:00 . 77. Buack Tern (Im.). II. Wing over 13-00. A. Wing 15-00 or over; outer primary mostly gray. 75. Soory TERN (Im.). 64. CaspiAN TERN. B. Wing under 15:00; inner half of inner web of first primary white. 65. Royau TERN. ae a et eae Fic. 61.—First. primaries of adult Terns, seen from below. (a) Caspian Tern ; (b) Royal Tern ; (c) Common Tern ; (d) Arctic Tern; (e) Roseate Tern. 68. Gelochelidon nilotica Hassclg. Guit-s1n1zup Tern; Marsu Tern. Ad. in summer.—Top of the head and nape black; back and wings pale pearl-gray ; outer web of outer primaries silvery; tip and shaft part of the inner web darker; inner part of the inner web, except for a narrow mare TERNS. v6!) gin at the end of the feather, white; tail white, slightly forked, the middle feathers grayish; under parts white; bill and feet black, the former rather short and stout. 4d. in winter—Similar to the above, but top of the head white, auriculars grayish, and a space in front of the eye blackish. L., 14°50; W., 12:00; T., 5°50; B., 1:40; depth of B. at base, -50. Range.—Cosmopolitan ; in North America breeds along the Gulf coast from Mexico to Florida, and on the Atlantic coast north to Virginia, straying northward rarely to Maine. Washington, casual. Long Island, A. V. in summer. 9gs, three to five, rather uniform butfy white, with numerous distinct and obscure chocolate markings, 1:80 x 1:30. This is a common species on the coast of our Southern States. It is said to prefer insects, which it catches on the wing, to fish. Its voice is harsh and easily distinguishable from that of other Terns, while its heavy black bill will also serve to identify it. 64. Sterna tschegrava Lepech. Caspian Turn. Ad. in spring. —Top and back of the head shining black, the feathers lengthened to form a crest; back of the neck, under parts, and tail white; back and wings pearl- gray; primaries dark slaty, silvery on the outer web (Fig. 61, a); bill coral- red, darker near the tip; feet black. Ad. after the breeding season and in winter.—Similar to the above, but top of the head streaked with black. Jm. —Top of head streaked with black and white; back of neck and under parts white; back, wing-coverts, and tertials pearl-gray, spotted or barred with brownish black; primaries dark slaty, silvery on the outer web; tail pearl- gray, more or less barred with brownish black; bill orange-red; feet black- ish brown. L., 21:00; W., 16-20; T., 6-00; B., 2°80. Range.—A cosmopolitan species of irregular distribution ; in North Amer- ica, breeds locally from Texas to Great Slave Lake; migrates through the in- terior and on the coast, and apparently does not winter within our limits. Long Island, uncommon T. V., Aug. and Sept. Eggs, two to three, grayish white or buffy white, with rather small, dis- tinct, and obscure chocolate markings, 2°70 x 1:83. This large Tern of local distribution is to be known by its size and red bill. Unless the two were seen together, however, I do not believe it could with certainty be distinguished in life from the Royal Tern. 65. Sterna maxima Bodd. Roya. Tern. Ad. in spring—Top and back of the head shining black, the feathers lengthened to form a crest; back of the neck, under parts, and tail white; back and wings pearl-gray ; inner web of primaries, except at the tip, white ; tip, outer web, and shaft part of inner web dark, silvery slate-color (Fig. 61, 6). Ad. after the breeding season and in winter.—Similar to the above, but top of the head streaked with black and white. Jm.—Resembling the young of S. tschegrava, but smaller and with the inner half of the inner web of the primaries white. L., 19:00; W., 14:00; T., 7:00; B., 2°50. Range.—Breeding in North America along the Gulf coast from Texas to 80 TERNS. Florida, and on the Atlantic coast to Virginia; occasionally wanders north- ward to the Great Lakes and Massachusetts. Long Island, A. V. in summer. Eggs, one to four, more pointed than those of the preceding, grayish white, with rather small, distinct, and obscure chocolate markings, 2°65 x 1°75. A common species on our southern coasts. During the winter it is about the only Tern one sees in Florida waters. It is a strong, active bird on the wing, and a reckless, dashing diver, frequently dis- appearing beneath the surface in catching its prey. The slow-fiying Pelicans are at its mercy, and it often deftly robs them of their well- earned gains, Both this species and the preceding, and indeed all the Terns, are to be known from the Gulls by the very different manner in which they hold their bills. A Tern points its bill directly downward, and looks, as Coues says, like a big mosquito, while a Gull’s bill points for- ward in the plane of its body. 67. Sterna sandvicensis acuflavida (Cabot). Cazsor’s Tern; Sanpwicu Tern, Ad. in spring—Whole top of the head and crest black: back and wings light pearl-gray; primaries silvery gray; the shaft part of the inner web white except at the tip; rest of the plumage white; feet and bill black, the latter with a conspicuous yellowish tip. Ad. after the breeding season and in winter—Similar to the above, but crown white, sometimes spotted with black; back of the head and crest more or less streaked with white. Jm.—Similar to the preceding, but back spotted with blackish; tail slaty gray and much shorter; bill slightly if at all tipped with yellow. L., 16:00; W., 10:50; T., 5°50; B., 2:05. fange.—Tropical America, breeding on the Gulf coast from Texas to Florida, and on the Atlantic coast to South Carolina; accidental in Massa- chusetts. Fags, two to three, buffy white, spotted, speckled, and scrawled with dis- tinct and obscure chocolate markings, 2:05 x 1:40. This is an abundant summer resident on the coasts of southern Florida, and in winter is common as far north as Key West. It is said by Audubon to somewhat resemble the Marsh Tern on the wing, and to have a loud, sharp, grating voice, which can be heard half a mile or more. I have never seen it alive, but I believe its yellow-tipped, black bill would enable one to identify it at some dis- tance. Trupeav’s Tern (68. Sterna trudeaut) is a South American species which has been taken once on Long Island and once on the New Jersey coast. 69. Sterna forsteri Vutt. Forster’s Tern. Ad. in summer— Whole top of the head black; back and wings pear!-gray ; inner border of inner web of the outer primaries white, except at the tip; rump and entire TERNS, 81 under parts white ; tail light pearl-gray, the outer feather darker toward the end, where the inner web is always darker than the outer ; bill dull orange, the end third blackish; feet orange. Ad. in winter. Similar to the above, but head white, more or less washed with grayish or spotted with black, a large black spot on the side of the head inclosing the eye; bill mostly black ; feet brownish. m.—Similar to the preceding, but the back and wings more or less mottled or washed with light brownish, and the tail much shorter. L., 15°00; W., 10°25; T., 7-00; Tar., 90; B., 1°50. Range.—Of more or less general distribution throughout North America, breeding in the east locally from Texas northward through the Mississippi Valley to St. Clair Flats and Manitoba—recorded trom Lake Mistassini—ap- parently not breeding on the Atlantic coast north of Virginia, but wandering irregularly to Massachusetts. Washington, rare and irregular I. V. Long Island, rare T. V. in fall. Nest, of seaweed, flags, or weeds on a slight elevation in grassy marshes. 4ggs, three, very variable, olive-gray, or olive brownish ashy, more rarely whitish or butf, heavily marked with chocolate, 1:80 x 1:30. Dr. Brewer, writing of Mr. Ridgway’s experience with this species on Cobb's Island, Virginia, where it was found breeding in numbers, says: “It was only less abundant than the Anglica [= nilotica], and quite as numerous as the Adrundo, frequenting especially grassy marshes, in which it nests. He found it pre-eminently a marsh Tern. It nested in company with, or in close proximity to, colonies of the Black-headed Gull. It could be readily distinguished from the Com- mon Tern, which it closely resembles when on the wing, by its grating monotonous note, which very closely resembles one frequently uttered by the Loggerhead Shrike” (B. B., and R.). 70. Sterna hirundo Linn. Common Tern; Wizson’s Tern; SEA Swa.tow (see Fig. 7). Ad. in summer—W hole top of the head black; back and wings pearl-gray; inner border of inner web of outer primaries white, except at the tip (Fig. 61, c); throat white; breast and belly pale pearl-gray ; tail white, the outer webs of the outer feathers gray or pearl-gray ; bill red at the base, the end third black ; feet orange-red. Ad. in winter—Similar to the above, but front part of the head and under parts white: bill mostly black. Jm.—Similar to the preceding, but the back more or less washed or mottled with light brownish; lesser wing-coverts slaty gray, and tail much shorter. L., 15-00; W., 10-25; T., 5°50; Tar., ‘75; B., 1°40. Lemarks.—The Common Tern is closely related to Forster’s Tern and also to the Arctic Tern. From the former it is to be distinguished by the color of the long outer tail-feathers. In the Common Tern the outer web of these feathers is always darker than the inner web; in Forster’s Tern the inner web is always darker than the outer one. Adult Common Terns have the breast and belly washed with pearl-gray, while in Forster’s Tern these parts are pure white. The Common Tern differs from the Arctic Tern in having the bill tipped q 82 TERNS. with black instead of being entirely red; in having longer tarsi, and in the color of the primaries. Range.—* Greater part of the northern hemisphere and Africa; in North America chiefly confined to the eastern province” (A. Q. U.). Breeds locally both on the coast and in the interior from the Gulf States to the Barren Grounds and Greenland. Washington, irregular T. V., sometimes common. Long Island, common 8. R., May through Sept. Sing Sing, casual in late summer. Cambridge, casual in Sept. ; Lggs, three to four, not distinguishable with certainty from those ot the preceding, but averaging paler and greener, and less heavily marked, 1:60 x 1°20. It is five years since I visited the breeding grounds of the colony of Common Terns on Gull Island, L. I., but I can close my eyes and still feel the air vibrate with the harsh, half-threatening, half-pleading chorus of nearly two thousand excited voices. There is a dull, heavy, hopeless monotone, broken only by the scream of some half-maddened bird who fearlessly darts downward to protect its nest at my feet. A shot is fired; there isa moment of awe-struck silence, then, with re- newed violence, the screaming is resumed. Pandemonium reigns: tearr, terrrr, swish / the air is full of darting, diving, crying Terns. It was useless to attempt to secrete myself. At no time during my stay ‘did the outcry cease or hovering flock disperse. This little, barren, uninhabited, sandy island—only a few acres in extent—and Muskeget Island, off the Massachusetts coast, are the only localities, from New Jersey to Maine, where the once abundant Common Tern, or Sea Swallow, can be found in any numbers, What an illus- tration of the results of man’s greed and woman’s thoughtlessness ! The fickle fashion which indorsed the poor Tern’s spotless plumage has long since found new favorites, and the sadly mangled pearl-gray feathers have gone to graves in the ash-heap. Now it is the Egret’s turn, Even the protection afforded by an insular home was not sufficient. Feather hunters, egg robbers, and self-styled odlogists came in boats to drive the Sea Swallows from their last resort; but the law inter- fered, and both Gull and Muskeget Islands now have a paid keeper whose duty it is to protect the Terns, 71. Sterna paradisma Briinn. Arctic Tern.—Very similar in color to the Common Tern, from which it differs in having less gray on the shaft part of the inner web of the outer primaries (Fig. 61,d@) ; in having the tail somewhat longer, the tarsi and bill shorter, while the latter, in the adult, is generally without a black tip. L., 15°50; W., 10°25; T., 7°50; Tar, 65; B., 1:30. Kange.— Northern hemisphere ; in North America, breeding from Massa- TERNS. 83 chusetts to the arctic regions, and wintering southward to Virginia and Cali- fornia” (A. O. U.). Long Island, rare in summer. £9qs, three to four, not distinguishable with certainty from those of the preceding, 1°62 x 1°15. Comparing the notes of this bird with those of the Common Tern, Mr. Brewster writes: “Their notes are similar, but several of them can be distinguished. The usual cry of S. macrura [= paradisea] cor- responds to the tearr of S. hirundo, but is shriller, ending in a rising inflection, and sounding very like the squeal of a pig. The bird also has a short, harsh note similar to that of Forster’s Tern. At any dis- tance within fair gun-range I could usually separate it from Wilson’s [= Common] Tern by its longer tail, and by the uniform and deeper color of the bill. In flight and habits the two seemed to me identical ” (Birds Observed on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., xxii, 1883, p. 402). 72. Sterna dougalli Montag. Rosrarz Tern. Ad. in summer— Top of head black; back and wings pearl-gray; outer web of outer pri- maries and shaft part of the inner web slaty black (Fig. 61, e); under parts white, generally delicately tinted with pinkish; tail pure white, bill black, the base reddish; feet red. Ad. in winter.—Similar to the above, but front of the head white, more or less streaked or spotted with black; under parts pure white. Jm., first plumage. Pileum and nape pale buffy grayish, tinely mottled or sprinkled with darker, and streaked, especially on the crown, with dusky ; orbital and auricular regions dusky blackish ; remainder of the head, extreme lower part of the nape, and entire lower parts white, the nape, and sometimes the breast, finely mottled with butty gray; back, scapulars, wing- coverts, rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail pale pearl-blue, the back and seapu- lars overlaid with pale buff irregularly mottled with dusky, each feather with a submarginal dusky V-shaped mark; primary coverts and primaries dark bluish-gray edged with paler, the inner webs of the latter broadly edged with white; tail-feathers marked near their ends much like the longer scapulars, their outer webs rather dark grayish; bill brownish dusky ; feet dusky.” L., 15°50; W., 9°50; T., 7:50; B., 1:50 (B., B., and R.). Range.—Temperate and tropical regions; in America apparently confined to the Atlantic coast, breeding from Florida northward to Maine; compara- tively rare north of southern New Jersey ; winters south of the United States, Long Island, uncommon but regular 8S. R., May through Sept. £9qs, three, not distinguishable with certainty from those of S. forsteri or S. hirundo, but averaging paler and less heavily marked, 1°65 x 1-20. This species is found associated with colonies of Common Terns, apparently making its nest among theirs, It is a less excitable. wilder bird than Airundo, and. its single harsh note, cack, may be distinctly heard above the uproar of Common Terns, as it hovers somewhat in 84 TERNS, the background. Its white breast and long outer tail-feathers also aid in distinguishing it. 74. Sterna antillarum (Zess.). Least Tern. Ad. in summer.— Forehead white, Jores and crown black; back, tail, and wings pearl-gray ; outer web of outer primaries and shaft part of the inner web slaty black; under parts white; bill yellow, generally tipped with black; feet orange. Ad. in winter.—Top of head white, more or less spotted with black ; back of head black ; bill blackish. m.—Upper parts and tail at the end mottled with blackish and buffy, primaries as in the adult, under parts white, bill blackish. L., 9:00; W., 6°90; T., 8°50; B., 1:10. Range.—Northern South America northward to California, Dakota, and Massachusetts, rarely to Labrador; breeds locally throughout its range, and winters south of the United States. Washington, casual T. V. Long Island, rare in summer. Eggs, three to four, buffy white, speckled or spotted with chocolate, 1:25 x *90. This, the smallest of our Terns, resembles its congeners in habits, though it is said to add insects to its usual fare of fish. Its voice is described as “a sharp squeak, much like the cry of a very young pig following its mother.” 75. Sterna fuliginosa @mel. Soorr Tern. dAd.—Forchead and a line reaching to the eye white, lores and rest of the head black; nape, back, and wings brownish black, nearly as dark as the head; outer tail-feathers white, brownish on the end half of the inner web; rest of tail-feathers of the same color as the back; under parts white; bill and feet black. Jm., first plumage.—Sooty slate-color; linings of the wings and under tail-coverts whitish ; wing-éoverts, scapulars, upper tail-coverts, and tail-feathers more or less tipped with white. L., 17:00: W., 11°50; T., 7°25; B., 1°75. eange.—Tropical and subtropical regions; in North America breeds rarely as far north as North Carolina; occasionally wanders northward to Maine; winters south of the United States. Long Island, A. V. in summer. Lggs, one to three, whitish or buff, speckled or spotted with chocolate, 2°00 x 1°45. A regular summer visitant to our southern coasts and occasionally wandering northward. It breeds in colonies in little-frequented islands in the West Indies, and may be seen fishing in flocks, which hover low over the water. The Brivten Tern (76. Sterna anethetus), a tropical species, has been taken once in Florida, but may prove to be a regular summer visitant to some of the Florida ‘keys. 77. Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis (@mel.). Buack TERN. Ad. in summer.—Whole head and under parts, except under tail-coverts, black; back, wings, and tail slate-color; bill and feet black. Ad. in winter. SKIMMERS, 85 —Forehead, nape, and under parts white: back of the head black mixed with white; back, wings, and tail deep pearl-gray. Jm.—Similar to the pre- ceding, but upper parts more or less washed and tipped with brownish ; sides washed with grayish. L., 10-00; W., 8:30; T., 3:30; B., 1-00. ange.—Temperate and tropical America; breeds in the interior from Kansas and Illinois to Alaska; not known to breed on the Atlantic coast, where it is found from Prince Edward’s Island southward as an irregular migrant, occurring at times in considerable numbers. Washington, irregular T. V., Sept. Long Island, irregular T. V. in vary- ing numbers, Aug. and Sept. Sing Sing, A. V., Sept. West, of reeds, grasses, ete., rather closely woven, in grassy marshes or vegetation floating in a slough. Zygs, two to three, grayish olive-brown, rarely whitish, heavily spottéd and blotched with chocolate markings, fre- quently confluent about the larger end, 1:35 x -98. This is an abundant species at favorable localities in the interior. “Tt seems not to subsist on fish at all, but chiefly on dragon flies and various aquatic insects. It finds both its home and its food in the marshes usually, but its powers of flight are so great that it may also be seen far out on the dry open plains, scouring the country for food at a distance of miles from its nesting ground... . “The bird may frequently be seen dashing about in a zigzag man- ner so swiftly, the eye can offer no’explanation of its motive until, on the resumption of its ordinary flight, a large dragon fly is seen hang- ing from its bill. . . .” (Thompson). The Warre-wincep Brack Trrn (78. Hydrochelidon leucoptera), an Old World species, has been taken once in Wisconsin, and is recorded as “seen” on a lake near Winnipeg. "9. Anous stolidus (Zinn.). Noppy. Ad.—Top of the head silvery whitish, lores black; rest of the plumage dark sooty brown; tail rounded, the central tail-feathers longest. Jm—Similar, but the top of the head is like the rest of the plumage and the silvery whitish appears as a line from the bill to above the eye. L., 15:00; W., 10-25; T., 5:90; B., 1-70. Range.— Tropical and subtropical regions; in America, from Brazil and Chili north to the Gulf and South Atlantic States” (A. O. U.). Nest, of sticks, grasses, etc., on a mangrove bush, in a tree, sometimes on the beach or in crevices of rocks. Zgg, pale butfy white, sparingly marked with rufous, 2°05 x 1:35. This is a summer visitant to our South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and nests on some of the Florida keys. FAMILY RYNCHOPID. SKIMMERS. The three closely allied species constituting this small but distinct family are found in the warmer parts of the earth. Only one species 86 ALBATROSSES, : inhabits the western hemisphere. Skimmers are unique both in the form of the bill and in their manner of feeding. Opening the mouth, the bladelike lower mandible is dropped just beneath the surface of the water; then, flying rapidly, they may be said to literally “ plow the main” in search of their food of small aquatic animals. 80. Rynchops nigra Linn. Brack Sximer; Scissor-Bitu (see Fig. 8). .4d.—Forehead, sides of the head, under parts, and tips of the sec- ondaries white; upper parts and wings black ; outer tail-feathers white, inner ones more or less brownish. L., 18:00; W., 14°50; T., 475; B., 2°60. Fange.—Coasts of the warmer parts of America, breeding regularly as far north as southern New Jersey, and, after the breeding season, occasionally wandering northward as far as the Bay of Fundy. Washington, A. V. Long Island, occasional in summer. Nest, a slight depression in the sand or shells of a beach. gs, three to four, white or buffy white, heavily blotched with chocolate, 1:80 x 1°35. A not uncommon species on our southern coasts, resembling other members of this family in habits. ORDER TUBINARES. TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS. Famity DIOMEDEIDA. ALBATROSSES. The Albatrosses, numbering eight or ten species, are confined chiefly to the seas of the southern hemisphere. They are eminently pelagic birds, possessed of untiring powers of flight. Four species visit our Pacific coast, but on the Atlantic coast of North America Albatrosses are almost unknown, and there are but few records of their occurrence. The Wanperrine ALBaTRoss (80'1. Diomedea exulans), the largest of all sea birds, with an expanse of wing which measures from twelve to fourteen feet, inhabits antarctic seas, but sometimes wanders northward, and is said to have been seen in Tampa Bay, Florida. The YELLow-NosED ALBaTRoss (83. Thalassogeron culminatus) is also a southern species which is said to have been taken once in Quebec (Chamber- lain, Nuttall’s Manual, 2d ed., ii, p. 277). FAMILY PROCELLARIID@. SHEARWATERS AND PETRELS. The seventy known species of Petrels are distributed over the seas of the world. Some thirty species have been found in North America, of which seven occur regularly on our Atlantic coast. Like their large relatives, the Albatrosses, they are strictly pelagic, and visit the land only to nest. The strong, swift flight of Shearwaters, and the graceful movements of the smaller ‘“ Mother Carey’s Chickens,” are familiar sights to those who go “down to the sea in ships.” SHEARWATERS AND PETRELS, 87 2 KEY TO THE SPECIES, I. Wing over 10°50. A. Under parts dusky . . soe ee ww. 94 Soory SHEARWATER, B. Under parts white. a. Bill under 1:50 soe ee ew 4.) . 698. Buack-cappep Petre. 6. Bill over 1:50. 1, Under tail-coverts white. . . . . . 88. Cory’s SHEARWATER. 62, Under tail-coverts grayish brown . . 89, GREATER SHEARWATER, I. Wing under 10-50. A. Wing over 7-25, a. Depth of bill at base over ‘50. . 86, Furman. 86a, Lesser Futmar. 6. Depth of bill at base under 50. 61. Upper parts bluish gray. ink - « . 99 ScatEep Perret. ba, Upper parts sooty black . » 92 AuDUBoN’s SUEARWATER. B. Wing under 7:25. a. Upper tail-coverts more or less white. a, Tail forked soe ee ee ee ee). 106, Leacu’s Perret. 6. Tail square. 62, Webs of fect marked with ees upper tail-coverts not tipped with black... - « 109, Witson’s PETREL, 63, Webs of feet without aretha: tale meen tipped with black. 104. Srormy Perre.. 6. Upper tail-coverts grayish or brownish. 61, Entire under parts brownish. . . « 101. BuLwer’s Perret. 62, Breast grayish. . . . ‘ 110. Wuirs-BELLIED PETREL. 68. Entire under parts white. . . . . . 111. Winrn-racEp Perret. 86. Fulmarus glacialis (Zinn.). Furmar; Novpy (see Fig. 9, 5). Light phase—Head, neck, and under parts white or whitish ; back, wings, and tail slaty gray. Dark phase.—Entire plumage nearly uniform dark, slaty gray. L., 19:00; W., 18:04; B., 1:50; depth of B. at base, -75 (Ridgw.). Range.—North Atlantic ; south in winter on the American coast to Massa- chusetts; accidental in northern New Jersey. Nest, on the ledges of rocky clifis. Zgg, one, dull white, 2°85 x 2-01. “The Fulmar is a constant attendant on whalers, sealers, ete.—who. know it as the ‘ Mollimoke ’"—in order to obtain fatty substances and animal offal; but I never saw it take any while on the wing, and it always settles on the water to feed, like an Albatross. The pinions are often flapped slowly in an owl-like manner, but in scndding they are held very straight—a peculiarity by which it may easily be distin- guished from a Gull at a distance” (Saunders). 86a. F. g. minor Ajaerd. Lesser Furmar; Noppy. “Similar in color to F. glacialis, but much smaller. W., 1180-1200; B., 1:80-1:38; depth of B. at base, *60-"70.” Range.— North Atlantic, south on American side to coast of New Eng- land” (Ridgw.). 88 SHEARWATERS AND PETRELS. 88. Puffinus borealis Cory. Cory’s Snearwarer. .Ad.—Upper parts ashy fuscous, wings and tail darker; sides of head and neck slightly lighter; under parts white, sometimes washed with grayish on the breast; under wing-coverts and under tadl-coverts white, the latter more or less mot- tled with grayish ; bill yellowish. L., 21:00; W., 14-00; Tar., 2:20; B., 2°10. Range.—Known as yet only off the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to Long Island. Long Island, uncommon from Aug. to Oct. Nest and eygs unknown. Cory’s Shearwater has been found as a not uncommon summer visitant off the coast of Massachusetts, but its range is unknown, 89. Puffinus major Faber. Greater SyEaRwatTeR; Hacepon. Ad. —Upper parts fuscous, wings and tail slightly darker; longer upper tail- coverts tipped with whitish ; under parts white ; belly more or less ashy gray ; under tail-coverts ashy gray ; bill blackish. L., 20:00; W., 12°25; Tar., 2:20; B., 1:85. Range.— Atlantic Ocean, south to Cape Horn and Cape of Good Hope” (A. O. U.); north to Greenland. Long Island, uncommon in summer. Vest and eggs unknown. “The long, narrow wings are set stiffly at right angles with the body, and the bird frequently glides half a mile at a time without moving them perceptibly. It usually follows a direct course, and in- variably skims close over the waves. I know of no other sea bird whose movements are as easy and graceful. Indeed, at times, espe- cially during a gale, its evolutions will compare in grace and spirit with those of the Mississippi or Swallow-tailed Kites” (Brewster). Mayx’s Surarwater (90. Pufinus oufinus) resembles the next in color, but is larger. W., 8:50-9:25 ; B., 1:35-1:40; depth of B. through base, -40--45 ; Tar., 1°70-1:80 ” (B., B., and R.). Jt is a European species of exceedingly rare or accidental occurrence on the North Atlantic coast. 92. Puffinus auduboni /insch. Avupvuson’s Suearwater. Ad.—- Upper parts, wings, and tail dark, sooty, brownish black ; under parts white ; sides of the breast grayish ; a patch on the flanks and under tail-coverts sooty brownish black ; inner side of tarsi yellowish, outer brownish ; bill blackish. L., 12:00; W., 8:00; Tar., 1:60; B., 1:20. Range.—W armer parts of the Atlantic, north rarely to Long Island; breeds in the Antilles and Bahamas, but not, so far as known, on our coasts. Long Island, A. V., one record. West, of a few bits of sticks in u hole in the rocks. Zyg, one, chalky white, 2°05 x 1:40. An. abundant West Indian species which breeds in the Bahamas ind Antilles, and is doubtless not uncommon off our southern coasts. SHEARWATERS AND PETRELS. 89 Its flight, low over the water, is strong and swift, five or six rapid wing-beats being followed by a short sail. 94. Puffinus stricklandi Midgw. Sooty SnearwaTer; Brack Hacvon. Ad.—Upper purts, wings, and tail dark, sooty, brownish black ; under parts somewhat grayer; bill blackish. L., 17-00; W.,12-00; Tar., 210: B., 1°65. dtange.—As far as known, North Atlantic; south on the American coast to South Carolina. Long Island, uncommon in summer. Vest and eggs unknown, “Tts flight and habits seem to be identical with those of major, but its uniform dark coloring gives it a very different appearance. At a distance it looks as black as a Crow” (Brewster). The Biack-capreD PETREL (98. dstrelata hasitata) is a southern species, which has been found on Long Island, in Florida, West Virginia, and Ver- mont. It bears a general resemblance to Puginus major, but is much smaller and has the upper and under tail-coverts white. The Soatep Perren (99. dstrelata scalaris) is known from one individual which had wandered to western New York. Its true home has not been dis- covered, but is doubtless in the Antarctic Ocean. Boiwer’s Perret (101. Bulweria bulweri) inhabits the eastern Atlantic Ocean, including the coasts of Europe and Africa, and is of accidental occur- rence in Greenland. 104. Procellaria pelagica Linn. Srormy Pzrrer. Ad.—Upper parts, wings, and tail sooty black ; under parts slightly browner; upper tail- coverts white, the longer ones broadly tipped with black ; under tail-coverts mixed with whitish; bill and feet black. L., 550; W., 4°80; T., 2°50; B., -45. Range.— Atlantic Ocean, south on the American side to the Newfound- land Banks, west coast of Africa and coast of Europe” (A. O. U.). Nest, of a few bits of sticks and grasses in a burrow in the ground or be- neath a rock. Zyg, one, dull white, sometimes with » wreath of minute or obscure markings at the larger end, 1:10 x °80. This is the common Stormy Petrel of the east side of the Atlantic. It nests in numbers on the small islands along the coast of Great Britain, but is only a transient visitant in our waters. It resembles the two following species in habits. 106. Oceanodroma leucorhoa ( Viei/l.). Leacn’s Prtrer. Ad. —Upper parts, wings, and tail sooty brown; under parts slightly browner; wing-coverts grayish brown; longer upper tail-coverts white, shorter ones mixed with sooty brownish ; tai forked, outer feathers more than ‘50 longer than middle pair; bill and feet black. L., 8:00; W., 6:20; T., 3:50; B., -62. Range.—* North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans; south on the coast of the United States to Virginia and California; breeds from Maine and the Hebrides northward on the coasts of the Atlantic” (A. O. U.). 90 SHEARWATERS AND PETRELS. Washington, A. V., several records. Long Island, uncommon T. V., May and June. Cambridge, A. V., one instance, Oct. Nest, of a few bits of sticks and grasses in a burrow in the ground, or be- neath arock. Zygg, one, creamy white, sometimes with a wreath of minute or obscure markings at the larger end, 1°34 x 100. “This is a bird of the northern hemisphere, being as common on the Pacific Ocean as on the Atlantic. Its chief breeding station on our shores is among the islands at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy; but the open ocean is the bird’s true home. “Leach’s Petrels are seldom seen about their nesting site during the,day, though in the evening they assemble there; and when flut- tering through the twilight or under the moon’s guidance they have the appearance of a foraging squad of bats, though the birds’ wild, plaintive notes betray their race. ‘The Petrels are not strictly noc- “turnal, however, for while one of a pair sits close on the nest all day— and this one has been generally the male, in my experience—the mate is out at sea, “When handled, these birds emit from mouth and nostrils a small quantity of oil-like fluid of a reddish color and pungent, musklike odor. The air at the nesting site is strongly impregnated with this odor, and it guides a searcher to the nest ” (Chamberlain). 109. Oceanites oceanicus (whl). Witson’s Perret. .4d.—Up- per parts, wings, and tail sooty black; under parts somewhat lighter; under tail-coverts mixed with whitish, longer upper tail-coverts white, shorter ones marked with sooty black; wing-coverts grayish, margined with whitish ; bill and feet black, the webs of the latter mostly yellow. L.,7:00; W., 590; 'T., 2:80; B., ‘50. Range.—Atlantic Ocean ; breeds in southern seas (Kerguelen Island) and migrates northward, spending the summer off our coasts. Washington, A. V., one record. Jong Island, common from May to Sept. Nest, in the crevices of rocks. Egg, one, white. It is generally known that some birds which nest in the northern parts of our continent, in the winter migrate as far south as Patago- nia; but comparatively few are aware that during the summer we receive several visitors from the southern parts of the southern hemi- sphere. They are all included in the family Procellariide, and Wil- son’s Petrel is doubtless the most common. It breeds in the islands of the South Atlantic in February, and after the cares of the breeding season are over migrates northward to pass its winter off our coasts. At this season its home is the sea, and its occurrence on land is gener- ally due to storms. For this reason, and because of its long migra- tion, it is the Petrel most frequently observed in western Atlantic waters during the summer. TROPIC BIRDS, 91 Under the name of “ Stormy Petrel,” or “ Mother Carey’s Chicken,” they are familiar to most people who have made sea voyages. On tireless wing they follow in the track of a ship, coursing ceaselessly back and forth, now beneath the stern, now hovering over the foam- flecked wake, reminding one of white-rumped Martins in their easy, graceful flight. If food be thrown overboard, they are at once attracted to it, and soon are left far behind, a little group of black, fluttering forms on the surface of the ocean. The meal disposed of, a few rapid wing-beats bring them to us, and again they resume their patient beat- ing to and fro. The Wuire-sELiiep Perren (110. Cymodroma grallaria) is a tropical species which has been taken once in North America—at St. Marks, Florida. The Wurrs-racep Prrret (111. Pelagodroma marina) inhabits the South Atlantic and southern seas. It is of casual occurrence off the coast of Massa- chusetts. It may be distinguished from any of our small Petrels by its white under parts. ORDER STEGANOPODES. TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS. Famity PHABTHONTIDZ. TROPIC BIRDs. The three species composing this small but distinct family are found throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They are littoral rather than pelagic, but make long journeys across the open sea. Their flight when migrating is strong, rapid, and direct. In feeding, they course over the water, beating back and forth at a height of about forty feet. Their long, willowy tail-feathers add greatly to the grace and beauty of their appearance when on the wing. 112. Phaéthon flavirostris Brandt. Yxuutow-siittep Tropic Brrp (see Fig. 11). Ad—White; a mark before and through the eye; outer web of primaries, lesser wing-coverts, and tertials black ; flanks streaked with slate ; bill yellow; tail tinged with salmon, shafts of the feathers black. W., 10°75; T., 19:00; B., 2:00. Range.—Tropical coasts; Atlantic coasts of tropical America, West Indies, Bahamas, Bermudas ; casual in Florida and accidental in western New York and Nova Scotia. This species breeds abundantly in the limestone cliffs of the Ber- mudas, but is of rare and probably accidental occurrence on our coasts. The Rep-zintEp Tropio Brirp (118. Phaéthon wthereus) resembles the preceding species, but has the bill red and the upper parts finely barred with black. Its range inthe Atlantic is more southern than that of the Yellow- billed Tropic Bird, and in eastern North America it.is accidental. The only record of its occurrence is off the Newfoundland Banks, 92 GANNETS. FaMILy SULID&. GANNETS. The Gannets number about eight species, of which one is northern while the remaiuing seven are distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical coasts of the world. They are strictly maritime, but, ex- cept when migrating, do not venture far from land. Their flight is strong and rapid, the vigorous strokes of the wing being interrupted at intervals by a short sail. They obtain their food of fish by plung- ing for it from the air. The northern species is migatory; the others are roving, but all return with regularity to their nesting places, gen- erally on some inaccessible islet, where, during the breeding season, they may be found associated in large numbers, 115. Sula sula (Linn). Boosy. (See Fig. 12.) 4d.—Breast and belly white, sometimes washed with grayish; rest of the plumage brownish fuscous ; head and neck sometimes streaked with grayish brown and white; bill and feet yellowish. Jm.—Entire plumage brownish fuscous, lighter be- low; bill blackish, feet yellow. L., 30:00; W., 15°50: T., 8:00; B., 3°80. Range.— Coasts of tropical and subtropical America, north to Georgia.” Long Island, A. V., one record. Vest, on the shore of a barren islet. Zygs, two, chalky white, 2°30 x 1°55. This inhabitant of barren shores and lonely islets is a summer visitant to the Florida keys. It is a strong flier, and when on the wing reminds one of both a Cormorant and a Gull. The Bivr-racep Boopy (114. Sula cyanops) is found in the “ South Pa- cific, West Indies, and northward to Florida,” but there are no recent records of its occurrence in the last-named locality. The Rep-rootep Boosy (116. Sula piscator) inhabits the coasts and islands of tropical and subtropical seas, north to western Mexico, and is said to occur in Florida, but, like S. cyanops, it is of accidental occurrence within our limits. 117. Sula bassana (Linn.). Ganner, Ad.— White, head and neck tinged with pale straw-yellow; primaries fuscous. Jm.—Throat and upper parts, including wing-coverts, dark grayish brown, each feather with a small white wedge-shaped spot; breast and belly white, margined with grayish brown. L., 35:00; W., 19:00; T., 9°50; B., 4-00. Range.— Coasts of the North Atlantic, south in winter to the Gulf of Mexico and Africa; breeds from Nova Scotia and the British Islands north- ward.” Long Island, T. V., May; Oct. and Nov.; a few winter. West, on rocky cliffs. yg, one, pale bluish white, overlaid by a chalky deposit, more or less soiled and stained, 3°20 x 1:90. “The birds are usually associated in small, straggling flocks, and with outstretched necks, and eyes ever on the lookout for fish, they fly at a height of from seventy-five to a hundred feet above the water, or DARTERS, 93 occasionally somewhat more. The height at which the Gannet flies above the water is proportioned to the depth at which the fish are swimming beneath, and Captain Collins tells me that when fish are swimming near the surface the Gannet flies very low and darts ob- liquely instead of vertically upon his prey. Should any finny game be seen within range, down goes the Gannet headlong, the nearly closed wings being used to guide the living arrow in its downward flight. Just above the surface the wings are firmly closed, and a small splash of spray shows where the winged fisher cleaves the water to transfix his prey. Disappearing for a few seconds, the bird reappears, rests for a moment on the water, long enough to swallow his catch, and then rises in pursuit of other game” (Lucas, Rep. U.S. Nat. Mus, 1891, p. 712). FamiIty ANHINGIDA. DARTERS. There are four species of Darters or Snakebirds, one each in Africa, southern Asia, Australia, and tropical and subtropical America. They are silent birds, generally living in pairs on bodies of fresh water with wooded shores. They select a perch over the water, and when alarmed sometimes drop into the element below and disappear beneath its sur- face, or fly upward to a considerable height and circle about like sail- ing Hawks. They swim well, and when approached too closely quietly sink backward, frequently leaving the long, thin neck and narrow, pointed head above the surface, when one at once observes the origin of the name “Snakebird.” They obtain their food by pursuing it under water, and their finely serrated bill assists them in retaining their hold upon it. 118. Anhinga anhinga (Linn.). Anninca; SvaxesrRp; WaTER Tursey. (See Fig. 18.) Ad. 6 in summer.—General plumage glossy black with greenish reflections; back of the head and neck with scattered grayish plumes; upper back with numerous elongated silvery white spots, which on the scapulars become streaks; lesser wing-coverts spotted like the back: ex- posed portion of median and greater coverts silvery gray; tail tipped with whitish, the outer webs of the middle pair of feathers with transverse flutings. Ad. & in winter—Similar, but without the grayish plumes on the head and neck. Ad. ¢.—Similar to 6, but with the whole head, neck, and breast brownish, darker above. /m.—Similar to 9, but with the black parts of the plumage brownish. L., 34:00; W., 13°50; T., 10-50; B., 3:25. Ranye—tTropical and subtropical America; breeds as far north as south- ern Illinois and South Carolina; winters from the Gulf States southward. Nest, of sticks lined with moss, rootlets, ete., over the watcr in a bush or tree. Hygs, two to four, bluish white with a chalky deposit, 2°15 x 1:35. This singular bird is common in the Gulf States. It has the habits of other members of this small family. 94 CORMORANTS. FamMiILy PHALACROCORACID. CORMORANTS. Cormorants are found in all parts of the world. ‘en of the thirty known species inhabit North America. As a rule they are maritime, but they also frequent bodies of fresh water far from the seacoast. They are gregarious at all times of the year and breed in large colo- nies. Their flight is strong and ducklike, but, except when migrat- ing, is generally not far above the surface of the water. They secure their food of fish by pursuing it under water, their hooked bill assist- ing them in its capture. Unlike the Gannets, they do not dive from the air, but from the water or a low perch. 119. Phalacrocorax carbo (Linn.). Cormorant; Suac. (See Fig. 10.) Ad. in breeding plumage.—Region about the base of the lower man- dible white or whitish; head, upper neck, and throat glossy black, thickly sprinkled with white; rest of the neck, under parts, and rump glossy black ; a white patch on the flanks; upper back, scapulars, and wing-coverts light olive-brown, each feather bordered by glossy black; tail black, composed of fourteen. feathers. Ad. in winter.—Similar, but without white on the head. Jm.—Top of the head and hind neck brownish black ; upper back, scapulars, and wing-coverts grayish brown, the feathers bordered by blackish; rump glossy black; throat and breast grayish brown, changing to white on the belly ; sides and under tail-coverts glossy black. L., 36:00; W., 14:00; T., 7-00; B., 8-00. Range.— Coasts of the North Atlantic, south in winter on the coast of the United States casually to the Carolinas” (A. OU. U.). Breeds from the Bay of Fundy to northern Greenland. Long Island, regular T. V. in limited numbers. Nest, of sticks and seaweed, in colonies generally on the ledges of rocky cliffs. gs, four to six, pale bluish white, more or less overlaid with a chalky deposit, 2°50 x 1°50. This northern species is of uncommon occurrence on our coast south of its breeding range. 120. Phalacrocorax dilophus (Sw. and Rich.). Dovusin-crestep Cormorant. Ad. in breeding plumage.—Head, neck, rump, and under parts glossy black; upper back, scapulars, and wing-coverts light grayish brown, each feather margined with glossy black ; tail black, composed of twelve feath- ers ; a tuft of black feathers on either side of the head. Ad. in winter.— Similar, but without tufts on the head. Jm.—Top of the head and back of the neck blackish brown ; upper back, scapulars, and wing-coverts brownish gray, each feather margined with black; rump glossy black; sides of the head and fore neck grayish white, whiter on the breast and changing gradu- ally to black on the lower belly. L., 30:00; W., 12:50; 'T., 6-20; B., 2°30. fange.—Eastern North America, breeding from Dakota, and the Bay of Fundy northward ; winters from southern Illinois and Virginia southward. Washington, casual, several records. Long Island, common T. Y., Apl. oReN . Baldpate. . Green-winged Teal. ’ Blue-winged Teal. Shoveler. Pintail. rs SOanra . Wood Duck. . Redhead. , Canvasback. Am. Scaup Duck. Am. Golden-eye. 11, Bufilehead. 12. Old Squaw. 13, Greenland Eider. 14, White-winged Scoter. 15, Ruddy Duck. PELICANS. 95 and May; Aug. to Nov. Sing Sing, A. V., June. Cambridge, casual, one instance, Sept. Nest, of sticks, seaweed, etc., on the ledges of clits, low bushes, bushy treee, or on the ground. gs, two to four, similar in color to those of the preceding, 2°40 x 1:40. This is the common Cormorant of the middle Eastern States. We see it chiefly as migrant when in flocks of varying size it passes far overhead, or pauses to rest on our shores. In migrating the flock is formed in a long line, comparatively few birds deep. On the wing they bear a general resemblance to large Ducks. 120a. P. d. floridanus (4wd.). Frortpa Cormorant. Resembles the preceding species in color, but is smaller. W., 12°00; T., 550; B.,210:—— This is an abundant bird on the Florida coast and westward along the shores of the Gulf. Almost every buoy in the harbors of Florida is capped by a Cormorant. They are shy birds, but may easily be se- cured by placing traps on the buoys or snags, to which they regularly return to roost. The Mexican Cormorant (121. Phalacrocorax mexicanus)—a species found on the west Gulf coast and southward—sometimes wanders up the Mis- sissippi as far as [llinois. Famity PELECANID&. PELICANS. The twelve known species of Pelicans are distributed throughout the warmer parts of the world. Three species are North American, of which two are exclusively maritime, while the third is found both on the coast and in the interior. Pelicans are gregarious and nest in large colonies. Their flight is strong but leisurely, six or seven wing- strokes being followed by a short sail, all the members of a flock flap- ping and sailing in unison, They feed on fish, for which some species plunge from the air, while others capture small fry with their scoop- like pouches while swimming. 125. Pelecanus erythrorhynchus Gmel. American White Petican. Ad. in breeding plumage.—White, primaries black, whitish . at the base; an occipital crest and a horny prominence on the bill.