has accidentally wandered to the Pacific coast of the United States. It
is dark above and whitish below, with black under tail coverts. It
breeds in the far south.
[Illustration 068: Sooty Shearwater.]
[Illustration: Dark-bodied Shearwater. Slender-billed Shearwater.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 67
98. BLACK-CAPPED PETREL. _Æstrelata hasitata._
This is not a common species; it is an inhabitant of tropical seas and
has only been casually found on our coasts or inland. It is a handsome
species with white forehead, underparts and nape with a small isolated
black cap on the crown; the rest of the upper parts are blackish. It is
a native of the West Indies.
99. SCALED PETREL. _Æstrelata scalaris._
This is another rare species which is an inhabitant of southern seas. A
single specimen taken in New York State gives it a claim as a doubtful
North American species. It is a handsome bird, the feathers of the
grayish upperparts being edged with white, thus giving it the appearance
of being barred. Its eggs have only been known to science within the
past few years. Data.--Preservation Inlet, New Zealand, June 7, 1900.
Single white egg. Size 2.40 × 1.75. Collector, P. Seymour. Parent bird
taken with the egg.
100. FISHER'S PETREL. _Æstralata fisheri._
This is a handsome bird known only from the type specimen taken off
Kadiak Is., Alaska, by Mr. Fisher.
101. BULWER'S PETREL. _Bulweria bulweri._
An eastern Atlantic species which is only an accidental visitant to our
shores. They breed on the Madeira Islands where the eggs are laid in
crevices among the rocks or in burrows in the ground. Size 1.75 × 1.55,
white.
102. PINTADO PETREL. _Daption capensis._
This is the Cape Pigeon of the southern hemisphere. It has only
accidentally occurred on our coast.
[Illustration 069: Black-capped Petrel. Scaled Petrel. Fisher's
Petrel.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 68
103. LEAST PETREL. _Halocyptena microsoma._
Range.--Pacific coast of America from Lower California to Panama. The
Least Petrel is the smallest of this family, in length measuring only
5.75 inches. Their plumage is entirely dark sooty. They have been found
breeding on San Benito Island, Lower California, and they probably do on
others farther south. The single egg that this bird lays is white with a
wreath of fine black specks around one and sometimes both ends.
Data.--San Benito Is., Lower California, June 12, 1897. No nest, the egg
being simply laid on the bare rock in a crevice. Size 1.00 × .75.
Collector, A. W. Anthony.
104. STORM PETREL. _Thalassidroma pelagica._
North Atlantic Ocean chiefly on the European side, wintering south to
New Brunswick. Smallest of the white rumped, black petrels; 5.75 inches
in length.
This species is the originally called "Mother Cary's Chicken" by the
sailors. They nest abundantly on many of the islands off the coasts of
Europe and the British Isles, laying their single egg either in burrows
or crevices among the cliffs. Data.--Coast of County Kerry, Ireland,
June 1, 1895. Single egg laid at the end of burrow in a sea cliff. Size
1.05 × .80; white with a wreath of very fine dots about the larger end.
Collector, G. H. McDonald.
105. FORKED-TAILED PETREL. _Oceanodroma furcata._
Range.--North Pacific from California to Alaska, breeding in the
Aleutians.
These birds have a plumage of bluish gray, the wings being darker and
the underparts lightest. The nests are made in burrows or crevices in
the banks. Data.--Uniak Is., Alaska, June 10, 1900. No nest. Single egg
laid at the end of a burrow. Several pairs nesting near. Egg white with
a fine wreath of purplish black specks about the large end. Size 1.25 ×
.95.
[Illustration 070: White.]
[Illustration: Least Petrel. Stormy Petrel. Forked-tailed Petrel.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 69
105.2. KÆDING'S PETREL. _Oceanodroma kædingi._
This bird is similar to Leach Petrel, but is smaller and the tail is
less deeply forked. Its range is from California to Panama breeding on
the Revillagigedo Islands off Mexico.
106. LEACH'S PETREL. _Oceanodroma leucorhoa._
Range.--North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans, breeding from Maine and
from the Farallones, northward to Greenland and the Aleutians.
These are the most common of the Petrels found on our coast; they are
eight inches in length, of a sooty brown color, and have a white rump.
The forked tail will at once distinguish them from any of the Atlantic
Petrels. They nest in burrows in the ground, laying a pure white egg,
sometimes with a very faint dusty wreath about the larger end. Size 1.20
× .95. These birds generally take turns in the task of incubation, one
remaining at sea during the day and returning at night while his mate
takes her turn roving the briny deep in search of food. The young are
fed by regurgitation upon an oily fluid which has a very offensive odor.
This odor is always noticeable about an island inhabited by Petrels and
is always retained by the eggs or skins of these birds. They are very
rarely seen flying in the vicinity of their nesting island during the
day; the bird that is on the nest will remain until removed by hand.
Data.--Pumpkin Is., Maine, June 22, 1893. Single egg; nest of a few
grasses at the end of a burrow dug in the bank. Collector, J. Lefavour.
106.1 GUADALUPE PETREL. _Oceanodroma macrodactyla._
This species, which is very similar to the preceding, except for a
longer and more deeply forked tail, breeds on Guadalupe Is. Their eggs
are white very minutely wreathed with reddish brown; they are, however,
nearly always nest stained to an uneven brownish color. Data.--Guadalupe
Is., Lower California, March 24, 1897. Single egg laid on a few oak
leaves and pine needles at the end of a three foot burrow. Size of egg
1.40 × 1.00. Collector, A. W. Anthony.
[Illustration 071: White.]
[Illustration: Kæding's Petrel. Leach's Petrel. Guadalupe Petrel.]
[Illustration: White, nest stained.]
[Illustration: right hand border.]
Page 70
107. BLACK PETREL. _Oceanodroma melania._
Range.--South Pacific, from southern California southward, breeding on
the small islands on both coasts of Lower California. They are similar
to the Leach's Petrel except that the rump is blackish. Data.--San
Benito Is., Lower California, July 23, 1896. White egg laid on bare
ground at the end of three foot burrow. Size 1.40 × 1. Collector, A. W.
Anthony.
108. ASHY PETREL. _Oceanodroma homochroa._
Range.--California coast, breeding on the Farallones and Santa Barbara
Islands.
This species, while not common, nests in all manner of localities on the
Farallones, concealing their eggs under any rock or in any crevice that
may attract their fancy. Their single white egg is only faintly if at
all wreathed with fine dust-like specks of reddish brown. Size 1.15 ×
.86. Data.--Farallone Is., California, June 12, 1895. Egg laid on sand
in crevice at the base of a stone wall; well concealed. Collector,
Chester Barlow.
108.1. SOCORRO PETREL. _Oceanodroma socorroensis._
Breeds on Socorro, San Benito and Coronado Islands, placing its eggs at
the end of burrow. Data.--San Benito Is., Lower California, July 12,
1897. Single egg at the end of a burrow 3 feet in length. Egg pure white
very finely wreathed with pale reddish brown. Size 1.15 × .87.
Collector, A. W. Anthony.
[Illustration 072: Black Petrel. Ashy Petrel.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 71
109. WILSON'S PETREL. _Oceanites oceanicus._
Breeds in the southern hemisphere in February and March and spends the
summer off the Atlantic coast as far north as Newfoundland. This species
can be distinguished from Leach Petrel by its square tail and from the
Stormy Petrel by its large size and yellow webs to its feet. These birds
are the greatest wanderers of the genus, being found at different
seasons in nearly all quarters of the globe. Their single egg is white.
Size 1.25 × .90.
110. WHITE-BELLIED PETREL. _Fregetta grallaria._
A small species (length about 7.5 inches) inhabiting southern seas.
Recorded once at Florida. General plumage blackish. Upper tail coverts,
bases of tail feathers, under wing coverts, and abdomen, white.
111. WHITE-FACED PETREL. _Pelagodroma marina._
Range.--Southern seas, accidentally north to the coast of Massachusetts.
This beautiful species is of about the same size as the Leach's Petrel.
It has bluish gray upper parts; the whole under parts, as well as the
forehead and sides of head, are white.
These birds have the same characteristics as do others of the species,
pattering over the water with their feet as they skim over the crests
and troughs of the waves. They are not uncommon in the waters about New
Zealand where they breed. Their single eggs are about the same as
Leach's Petrel, are brilliant white and are, very strongly, for a Petrel
egg, wreathed about the large end with dots of reddish brown. Size 1.32
× .90. Data.--Chatham Is., New Zealand, January 7, 1901. Egg laid at end
of a burrow. Collector, J. Lobb. This egg is in Mr. Thayer's collection.
[Illustration 073: Wilson's Petrel. White-billed Petrel. White-faced
Petrel.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 72
TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS. Order IV. STEGANOPODES
TROPIC BIRDS. Family PHAETHONTIDAE
Tropic Birds are Tern-like birds, having all the toes connected by a
web, and having the two central tail feathers very much lengthened.
112. YELLOW-BILLED TROPIC BIRD. _Phæthon americanus._
Range.--Tropical regions, breeding in the Bahamas, West Indies and the
Bermudas, casual in Florida and along the South Atlantic coast.
The Tropic Birds are the most strikingly beautiful of all the sea birds;
they are about 30 inches in length, of which their long slender tail
takes about 20 inches. They fly with the ease and grace of a Tern, but
with quicker wing beats. They feed on small fish, which they capture by
darting down upon, and upon snails which they get from the beach and
ledges. They build their nests in the crevices and along the ledges of
the rocky cliffs. While gregarious to a certain extent they are not
nearly as much so as the Terns. The nest is made of a mass of seaweed
and weeds; but one egg is laid, this being of a creamy or pale purplish
ground color, dotted and sprinkled with chestnut, so thickly as to often
obscure the ground color. Size 2.10 × 1.45. Data.--Coney Is., Bermudas,
May 1, 1901. Nest made of moss and seaweed in a crevice on ledge of
cliff. Collector, A. H. Verrill.
[Illustration 074: Dull purplish.]
[Illustration: Yellow-billed Tropic Bird. Red-billed Tropic Bird.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 73
113. RED-BILLED TROPIC BIRD. _Phæthon æthereus._
Range.--Tropical seas, chiefly in the Pacific Ocean; north to southern
California.
They breed on several islands in the Gulf of California. This species
differs from the preceding in having a red bill, and the back being
barred with black. Their plumage has a peculiar satiny appearance and is
quite dazzling when viewed in the sunlight. They are strong fliers and
are met with, hundreds of miles from land. They often rest upon the
water, elevating their long tails to keep them from getting wet. They
nest, as do the preceding species, on rocky islands and are said to also
build their nests in trees or upon the ground. The single egg that they
lay has a creamy ground and is minutely dotted with chestnut. Size 2.40
× 1.55. Data.--Daphone Is., Galapagos Is., South Pacific, March 6, 1901.
Egg laid in hole of a sea cliff. The eggs are easily told from those of
the yellow-billed by their much larger size. Collector, R. H. Beck.
113.1 RED-TAILED TROPIC BIRD. _Phæthon rubricaudus._
Range.--Tropical regions of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, accidental
off the coast of Lower California.
This is a singularly beautiful species resembling the latter except that
the central tail feathers are bright red, with the extreme tips white.
During August and September they breed in large colonies on small
islands in the South Seas. On Mauritius Island they build their nests
either in the trees or place them on the ground; the nest is made of
seaweed, sticks and weeds; numbers of them nest on Laysan Is., of the
Hawaiian group, concealing their nests on the ground under overhanging
brush.
The single egg has a pale purplish ground speckled with brown.
[Illustration 075: Pale purplish.]
[Illustration: Pale purplish ground color.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 74
GANNETS. Family SULIDAE
Gannets are large stoutly built birds, having the four toes joined by a
web; they have a small naked pouch beneath the bill; the bill is a
little longer than the head, and the tail is quite short. The plumage of
the adults is generally white, that of the young grayish.
114. BLUE-FACED BOOBY. _Sula syanops._
Range.--Widely distributed in the tropical seas, north casually to
Florida and breeding in the Bahamas.
Like the rest of the Gannets, this one is stupid and will often remain
on the nest until removed with the hand, merely hissing at the intruder.
Often they lay their eggs on the bare ground, but sometimes the nest is
lined with seaweed or grass. They lay either one or two eggs early in
April. These eggs are of a dull white color and are heavily covered with
a chalky deposit. Size 2.50 × 1.70. Data.--Clarion Is., Mexico, May 24,
1897. Nest a mere hollow in the sand near the beach. Collector, A. W.
Anthony.
114.1. BLUE-FOOTED BOOBY. _Sula nebouxi._
Range.--Pacific coasts and islands from the Gulf of California southward
to Chili.
These birds nest in numbers on the island of San Pedro Martir in the
Gulf of California. They lay but a single egg, placing it upon the bare
rock. Their breeding season extends from the latter part of March into
May. The egg is a dull white, generally nest stained and is covered with
the usual chalky deposit. Size 2.35 × 1.60. Data.--Clarion Island,
Mexico, May 21, 1897. Two eggs in a hollow in the sand near the beach.
Collector, A. W. Anthony.
[Illustration 076: Blue-faced Booby. Blue-footed Booby.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 75
115. BOOBY. _Sula leucogastra._
Range.--Tropical coasts and islands of the Atlantic; north casually to
Georgia.
The common Booby is an abundant bird on some of the islands of the
Bahamas and Bermudas; it is commonly called the Brown Booby because the
upper parts are of a brownish gray. These birds, as do the other
Gannets, have great powers of flight and without apparent effort dart
about with the speed of an arrow. They are quite awkward upon their feet
and are not very proficient swimmers. They rarely rest upon the water
except when tired. Hundreds and sometimes thousands of them breed in
company, laying their eggs upon the bare rocks. Sometimes a few sticks
or grasses will be placed about the bird to prevent the eggs from
rolling away. They generally lay two eggs, chalky white and nest
stained. Size 2.40 × 1.60. Data.--Key West, Bahamas, April 14, 1891. No
nest; two eggs laid on the bare rocks.
115.1. BREWSTER'S BOOBY. _Sula brewsteri._
Range.--Pacific coast from Lower California southward. This Gannet
replaces the common Booby on the Pacific coast. It nests abundantly on
many islands in the Gulf of California, and in company with the
blue-footed variety, on San Pedro Martir Island. They generally lay two
eggs, placing them upon the bare rocks and surrounding them with a ring
of sticks and seaweed to keep them in place. The eggs are chalky white
and cannot be distinguished from those of the other Boobies. Data.--San
Benedicto Is., Lower California, May 18, 1897. Single egg laid on the
sand amid a few blades of grass.
116. RED-FOOTED BOOBY. _Sula piscator._
This is another species that is only occasionally taken on the Florida
coast. The habits of the birds and their nesting habits are the same as
those of the others of the family. Two chalky white eggs are laid.
Data.--San Benedicto Is., Lower California, May 18, 1897. Single egg.
Nest a few twigs of rank grass. Collector, A. W. Anthony.
[Illustration 077: Chalky bluish white, nest stained.]
[Illustration: Booby. Red-footed Booby.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 76
117. GANNET. _Sula bassana._
Range.--North Atlantic, breeding, in America, only on Bird Rocks in the
St. Lawrence.
These are the largest of the family, being 35 inches in length. They
feed on fish which they catch by diving upon, from the air. When flying
their neck is carried fully extended. They rest on the water when tired,
the numerous air cells beneath the skin, causing them to sit high up in
the water and enabling them to weather the severest storm in perfect
safety. The only known breeding place in America is Bird Rocks, where
they nest by thousands, placing their nests in rows on the narrow
ledges; the nests are made of piles of seaweed, mud and stones. They lay
but one egg of dingy white color and covered with a chalky deposit. On
St. Kilda Island, off the coast of Scotland, they breed by millions.
They are very tame and will frequently allow themselves to be touched
with the hand. It is said that thousands of the young are killed by
fishermen every year and marketed in Edinburg and other places.
Data.--St. Kilda Island, Scotland, June 18, 1896. Single egg laid on a
large mass of seaweed on a sea cliff. Collector, H. McDonald.
[Illustration: Ganet Anhinga.]
[Illustration: Chalky bluish white.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 77
DARTERS. Family ANHINGIDAE
118. WATER TURKEY. _Anhinga anhinga._
Range.--Tropical America, north to the South Atlantic States and up the
Mississippi Valley to Illinois.
Anhingas or Snake Birds are curiously formed creatures with a Heron-like
head and neck, and the body of a Cormorant. They live in colonies in
inaccessible swamps. Owing to their thin and light bodies, they are
remarkable swimmers, and pursue and catch fish under water with ease.
When alarmed they have a habit of sinking their body below water,
leaving only their head and neck visible, thereby having the appearance
of a water snake. They also fly well and dive from their perch into the
water with the greatest celerity.
They nest in colonies in the swamps, placing their nests of sticks,
leaves and moss in the bushes over the water. They breed in April,
laying from three to five bluish eggs, covered with a chalky deposit.
Size 2.25 × 1.35. Data.--Gainesville, Florida, May 18, 1894. Nest in the
top of a button-wood tree, made of leaves and branches, overhanging the
water. Collector, George Graham.
[Illustration 079: Chalky bluish white.]
[Illustration: PELICAN POND. Washington Zoological Park.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 78
CORMORANTS. Family PHALACROCORACIDÆ
Cormorants have a more bulky body than do the Anhingas; their tail is
shorter and the bill strongly hooked at the tip. Cormorants are found in
nearly all quarters of the globe. They are very gregarious and most
species are maritime. They feed upon fish which they catch by pursuing
under water. Most of the Cormorants have green eyes.
[Illustration: 080 left hand margin.]
Page 79
119. CORMORANT. _Phalacrocorax carbo._
Range.--The Atlantic coast breeding from Maine to Greenland.
The common Cormorant or Shag is one of the largest of the race, having a
length of 36 inches.
In breeding plumage, the black head and neck are so thickly covered with
the slender white plumes as to almost wholly obscure the black. There is
also a large white patch on the flanks. They nest in colonies on the
rocky shores of Newfoundland and Labrador, placing their nests of sticks
and seaweed in rows along the high ledges, where they sit, as one writer
aptly expresses it, like so many black bottles. A few pairs also nest on
some of the isolated rocky islets off the Maine coast. During the latter
part of May and during June they lay generally four or five greenish
white, chalky looking eggs. Size 2.50 × 1.40. Data.--Black Horse Rock,
Maine coast, June 6, 1893. Four eggs in a nest of seaweed and a few
sticks; on a high ledge of rock. Collector, C. A. Reed.
120. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT. _Phalacrocorax auritus auritus._
Range.--The Atlantic coast and also in the interior, breeding from Nova
Scotia and North Dakota northward.
This is a slightly smaller bird than carbo, and in the nesting season
the white plumes of the latter are replaced by tufts of black and white
feathers from above each eye. On the coast they nest the same as carbo
and in company with them on rocky islands. In the interior they place
their nests on the ground or occasionally in low trees on islands in the
lakes. They breed in large colonies, making the nests of sticks and
weeds and lay three or four eggs like those of the common Cormorant but
averaging shorter. Size 2.30 × 1.40. Data.--Stump Lake, North Dakota,
May 31, 1897. Nest of dead weeds on an island. Six eggs. Collector, T.
F. Eastgate.
[Illustration 081: Chalky greenish or bluish white.]
[Illustration: Cormorant. Double-crested Cormorant.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 80
[Illustration 082: Walter Raine.
NESTS OF DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS.]
Page 81
120a. FLORIDA CORMORANT. _Phalacrocorax auritus floridanus._
This sub-species is a common breeding bird in the swamps and islands of
the Gulf coast and north to South Carolina and southern Illinois. The
nests are placed in the mangroves in some of the most impenetrable
swamps and are composed of twigs and lined with leaves or moss. They lay
three or four chalky bluish white eggs. Size 2.30 × 1.40. Data.--Bird
Is., Lake Kissimee, Florida, April 5, 1898. Three eggs. Nest made of
weeds and grass, in a willow bush.
120b. WHITE-CRESTED CORMORANT. _Phalacrocorax auritus cincinatus._
Range.--Northwestern coast of North America, breeding in Alaska, and
south to the northern boundary of the United States, breeding both in
the interior and on the coast, in the former case generally on the
ground or in low trees on swampy islands and in the latter, on the rocky
cliffs of the coasts and islands. The nests are built in the same
fashion as the other Cormorants, and the three to five eggs are similar.
Size 2.45 × 1.40.
120c. FARALLON CORMORANT. _Phalacrocorax auritus albociliatus._
Range.--This sub-species breeds on the coasts and islands of California
and southward.
In company with other species of Cormorants, these birds breed in large
numbers on the Farallones, placing their nests well up on the higher
ridges and rocks. They breed most abundantly during May. When nesting on
the inland islands, they place their nests in low bushes. Their nests
and eggs are similar to those of the other Cormorants. Size 2.40 × 1.50.
Data.--Farallones, California. Nest of weeds and seaweed on the rocks.
Collector, W. O. Emerson.
121. MEXICAN CORMORANT. _Phalacrocorax vigua mexicanus._
Range.--Breeds abundantly from southern Texas, south through Mexico;
north rarely to Kansas; has recently been found breeding in limited
number on some of the Bahamas. In the interior they nest in trees,
chiefly those overhanging or growing in the water. On the coasts they
nest on the rocky ledges, as do the other Cormorants. They nest in
colonies building their abode of twigs and weeds, and during May laying
three or four eggs, greenish white in color and chalky, as are all the
Cormorants. Size 2.25 × 1.35.
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
[Illustration 083: Greenish white.]
Page 82
122. BRANDT'S CORMORANT. _Phalacrocorax penicillatus._
Range.--Pacific coast breeding along the whole coast of the United
States.
This species is found more abundantly on the Farallones than is the
Farallone Cormorant. Like the other Cormorants breeding on these
islands, these cling closely to their nests, for fear of being robbed by
the Gulls, that are ever on the watch to steal either eggs or young.
Their nesting habits and eggs are identical with those of the other
species. Size 2.50 × 1.50. Data.--Bird Island, California, May 24, 1885.
A very bulky nest of seaweed on the rocks. Collector, A. M. Ingersoll.
123. PELAGIC CORMORANT. _Phalacrocorax pelagicus pelagicus._