parallel, slightly dilated towards the end, which is rounded, the
frontal angles rather narrow and pointed. Upper mandible with the
dorsal line at first straight and declinate, then slightly concave,
direct for a short space near the tip, where it is incurved, the
ridge broad and concave at the base, narrowed at the middle, enlarged
and convex at the end; the sides nearly erect at the base, becoming
anteriorly more and more declinate and convex, the edges curved,
with about 45 lamellæ, the unguis elliptical, and abruptly rounded
at the end. Nostrils submedial, oblong, rather large, pervious, near
the ridge, in an oblong depression covered with soft membrane. Lower
mandible flattened, being but slightly convex, with the angle very
long and rather narrow, the dorsal line very short and slightly convex,
the erect edges with about 55 inferior lamellæ; the unguis obovate and
abrupt.
Head rather large, compressed, convex above. Eyes small. Neck of
moderate length, rather thick. Body full, depressed. Wings small.
Feet very short, strong, placed rather far behind; tarsus very short,
compressed, anteriorly with narrow scutella continuous with those of
the middle toe, and having another series commencing half-way down
and continuous with those of the outer toe, the rest reticulated with
angular scales. Hind toe small, with an inner expanded margin or web;
middle toe nearly double the length of the tarsus, outer a little
shorter. Claws small, compressed, that of the first toe very small and
curved, of the third toe larger and more expanded than the rest.
Plumage dense, soft, blended. Feathers of the upper part of the head
small and rather compact, of the rest of the head and neck small,
blended, and glossy. Wings shortish, narrow, pointed; primary quills
strong, tapering, the first longest, the second almost as long, the
rest rapidly diminishing; secondary quills broad and rounded, the inner
elongated and tapering. Tail very short, much rounded, or wedge-shaped,
of fourteen feathers.
Bill light greyish-blue, with a broad band of black at the end, and
a dusky patch anterior to the nostrils. Iris orange-yellow. Head and
neck all round, for more than half its length of a rich brownish-red,
glossed with carmine above. A broad belt of brownish-black occupies
the lower part of the neck, and the fore part of the body, of which
the posterior part is of the same colour, more extended on the back
than under the tail. Back and scapulars pale greyish-white, very
minutely traversed by dark brownish-grey lines; the sides and abdomen
similar, the undulations gradually fading away into the greyish-white
of the middle of the breast; upper wing-coverts brownish-grey, the
feathers faintly undulated with whitish toward the end. Primary quills
brownish-grey, dusky along the outer web and at the end; secondaries
ash-grey, narrowly tipped with white, the outer faintly tinged with
yellow, and almost imperceptibly dotted with whitish, four or five
of the inner of a purer tint tinged with blue, and having a narrow
brownish-black line along the margin; the innermost like the scapulars
but more dusky. Tail brownish-grey, towards the end lighter. Axillar
feathers and lower wing-coverts white. Feet dull greyish-blue, the webs
dusky, the claws black.
Length to end of tail 20 inches, to end of wings 18-1/2, to end of
claws 22; extent of wings 33; wing from flexure 9-2/12; tail 2-8/12;
bill along the ridge 2, from the tips of the frontal processes 2-4/12;
tarsus 1-1/2, first toe and claw 10/12; second toe 1-10/12, its claw
(5-1/2)/12, third toe 2-5/12, its claw (4-1/2)/12; fourth toe 2-6/12,
its claw (3-1/2)/12. Weight 2-1/2 lb.
Adult Female. Plate CCCXXII. Fig. 2.
The female has the bill of a dusky bluish-grey, with a broad band of
black at the end, and a narrow transverse blue line, narrower than in
the male. Iris yellow. Feet as in the male, the head and upper part
of the neck dull reddish-brown, darker above, and lighter on the fore
part of the cheeks and along a streak behind the eye. The rest of the
neck all round, and the upper parts in general, are dull greyish-brown,
the feathers paler at their extremity; the flanks and fore part of
the neck dull reddish-brown, the feathers broadly tipped with pale
greyish-brown. The wings are as in the male, but of a darker tint, and
without undulations. The tail as in the male. Lower wing-coverts light
grey, those in the middle white; middle of breast greyish-white, hind
part of abdomen light brownish-grey.
Length to end of tail 21 inches, to end of claws 23-1/2; extent of
wings 32-1/2. Weight 2 lb. 7 oz.
The following account of the digestive organs is taken from a _British
specimen_, an adult male, examined by Mr MACGILLIVRAY in March 1836.
The tongue is 1 inch and 10 twelfths long, 6-1/2 twelfths broad, its
sides furnished with two series of bristly filaments. The œsophagus
is 11 inches long, with a diameter of nearly 5 twelfths at the top,
8 twelfths at the lower part of the neck. The proventriculus has a
diameter of 9 twelfths; its glandules are cylindrical, and 2 twelfths
long. The stomach is an extremely powerful gizzard, of an elliptical
form, compressed, oblique, its length 2-1/2 inches, its breadth 1-3/4;
its lateral muscles more than half an inch thick; the cuticular coat
rather thin, but very tough, slightly rugous, with two circular thicker
parts opposite the centres of the lateral muscles. The upper part forms
a small sac, from which the duodenum comes off; the pylorus without
valve. The intestine is 5 feet 4 inches long, narrowest in its upper
part where its diameter is 4 twelfths, widest at the middle, where it
is 6-1/2 twelfths, near the cœca 5/12. The rectum is 5-1/2 inches long,
its diameter 6 twelfths; the cœca 7 inches long, nearly cylindrical, 4
twelfths in diameter, a little narrower at the commencement.
BLACK SKIMMER OR RAZOR-BILLED SHEARWATER.
_RYNCHOPS NIGRA_, LINN.
PLATE CCCXXIII. MALE.
This bird, one of the most singularly endowed by nature, is a constant
resident on all the sandy and marshy shores of our more southern
States, from South Carolina to the Sabine River, and doubtless also in
Texas, where I found it quite abundant in the beginning of spring. At
this season parties of Black Skimmers extend their movements eastward
as far as the sands of Long Island, beyond which however I have not
seen them. Indeed in Massachusetts and Maine this bird is known only
to such navigators as have observed it in the southern and tropical
regions.
To study its habits therefore, the naturalist must seek the extensive
sand-bars, estuaries, and mouths of the rivers of our Southern States,
and enter the sinuous bayous intersecting the broad marshes along
their coasts. There, during the warm sunshine of the winter days,
you will see thousands of Skimmers, covered as it were with their
gloomy mantles, peaceably lying beside each other, and so crowded
together as to present to your eye the appearance of an immense black
pall accidentally spread on the sand. Such times are their hours of
rest, and I believe of sleep, as, although partially diurnal, and
perfectly able to discern danger by day, they rarely feed then, unless
the weather be cloudy. On the same sands, yet apart from them, equal
numbers of our common Black-headed Gulls may be seen enjoying the same
comfort in security. Indeed the Skimmers are rarely at such times found
on sand or gravel banks which are not separated from the neighbouring
shores by some broad and deep piece of water. I think I can safely
venture to say that in such places, and at the periods mentioned,
I have seen not fewer than ten thousand of these birds in a single
flock. Should you now attempt to approach them, you will find that as
soon as you have reached within twice the range of your long duck-gun,
the crowded Skimmers simultaneously rise on their feet, and watch all
your movements. If you advance nearer, the whole flock suddenly taking
to wing, fill the air with their harsh cries, and soon reaching a
considerable height, range widely around, until, your patience being
exhausted, you abandon the place. When thus taking to wing in countless
multitudes, the snowy white of their under parts gladdens your eye, but
anon, when they all veer through the air, the black of their long wings
and upper parts produces a remarkable contrast to the blue sky above.
Their aërial evolutions on such occasions are peculiar and pleasing,
as they at times appear to be intent on removing to a great distance,
then suddenly round to, and once more pass almost over you, flying
so close together as to appear like a black cloud, first ascending,
and then rushing down like a torrent. Should they see that you are
retiring, they wheel a few times close over the ground, and when
assured that there is no longer any danger, they alight pell-mell, with
wings extended upwards, but presently closed, and once more huddling
together they lie down on the ground, to remain until forced off by
the tide. When the Skimmers repose on the shores of the mainland during
high-water, they seldom continue long on the same spot, as if they felt
doubtful of security; and a person watching them at such times might
suppose that they were engaged in searching for food.
No sooner has the dusk of evening arrived than the Skimmers begin to
disperse, rise from their place of rest singly, in pairs, or in parties
from three or four to eight or ten, apparently according to the degree
of hunger they feel, and proceed in different directions along parts of
the shores previously known to them, sometimes going up tide-rivers to
a considerable distance. They spend the whole night on wing, searching
diligently for food. Of this I had ample and satisfactory proof when
ascending the St John River in East Florida, in the United States’
Schooner the Spark. The hoarse cries of the Skimmers never ceased more
than an hour, so that I could easily know whether they were passing
upwards or downwards in the dark. And this happened too when I was at
least a hundred miles from the mouth of the river.
Being aware, previously to my several visits to the peninsula of the
Floridas and other parts of our southern coasts where the Razor-bills
are abundant, of the observations made on this species by M. LESSON, I
paid all imaginable attention to them, always aided with an excellent
glass, in order to find whether or not they fed on bivalve shell-fish
found in the shallows of sand-bars and other places at low water;
but not in one single instance did I see any such occurrence, and in
regard to this matter I agree with WILSON in asserting that, while
with us, these birds do not feed on shell-fish. M. LESSON’s words
are as follows:—“Quoique le Bec-en-ciseaux semble defavorisé par la
forme de son bec, nous acquimes la preuve qu’il savait s’en servir
avec avantage et avec la plus grande adresse. Les plages sabloneuses
de Peuce sont en effect remplies de Macetres, coquilles bivalves, que
la marée descendente laisse presque à sec dans des petites mares; le
Bec-en-ciseaux très au fait de cet phenomène, se place aupres de ces
mollusques, attend que leur valves s’entrouvrent un peu, et profite
aussitot de ce movement en enforçant la lame inferieure et tranchante
de son bec entre les valves qui se reserrent. L’oiseaux enleve alors la
coquille, la frappe sur la grève, coupe le ligament du mollusque, et
peut ensuite avaler celui-ci sans obstacle. Plusieurs fois nous avons
été temoins de cet instinct très perfectionné.”
While watching the movements of the Black Skimmer as it was searching
for food, sometimes a full hour before it was dark, I have seen it pass
its lower mandible at an angle of about 45 degrees into the water,
whilst its _moveable_ upper mandible was elevated a little above the
surface. In this manner, with wings raised and extended, it ploughed as
it were, the element in which its quarry lay to the extent of several
yards at a time, rising and falling alternately, and that as frequently
as it thought it necessary for securing its food when in sight of it;
for I am certain that these birds never immerse their lower mandible
until they have observed the object of their pursuit, for which reason
their eyes are constantly directed downwards like those of Terns and
Gannets. I have at times stood nearly an hour by the side of a small
pond of salt water having a communication with the sea or a bay, while
these birds would pass within a very few yards of me, then apparently
quite regardless of my presence, and proceed fishing in the manner
above described. Although silent at the commencement of their pursuit,
they become noisy as the darkness draws on, and then give out their
usual call notes, which resemble the syllables _hurk_, _hurk_, twice
or thrice repeated at short intervals, as if to induce some of their
companions to follow in their wake. I have seen a few of these birds
glide in this manner in search of prey over a long salt-marsh bayou,
or inlet, following the whole of its sinuosities, now and then lower
themselves to the water, pass their bill along the surface, and on
seizing a prawn or a small fish, instantly rise, munch and swallow it
on wing. While at Galveston Island, and in the company of my generous
friend EDWARD HARRIS and my son, I observed three Black Skimmers, which
having noticed a Night Heron passing over them, at once rose in the
air, gave chase to it, and continued their pursuit for several hundred
yards, as if intent on overtaking it. Their cries during this chase
differed from their usual notes, and resembled the barkings of a very
small dog.
The flight of the Black Skimmer is perhaps more elegant than that of
any water bird with which I am acquainted. The great length of its
narrow wings, its partially elongated forked tail, its thin body and
extremely compressed bill, all appear contrived to assure it that
buoyancy of motion which one cannot but admire when he sees it on wing.
It is able to maintain itself against the heaviest gale; and I believe
no instance has been recorded of any bird of this species having been
forced inland by the most violent storm. But, to observe the aërial
movements of the Skimmer to the best advantage, you must visit its
haunts in the love season. Several males, excited by the ardour of
their desires, are seen pursuing a yet unmated female. The coy one,
shooting aslant to either side, dashes along with marvellous speed,
flying hither and thither, upwards, downwards, in all directions.
Her suitors strive to overtake her; they emit their love-cries with
vehemence: you are gladdened by their softly and tenderly enunciated
_ha_, _ha_, or the _hack_, _hack_, _cae_, _cae_, of the last in the
chase. Like the female they all perform the most curious zigzags, as
they follow in close pursuit, and as each beau at length passes her in
succession, he extends his wings for an instant, and in a manner struts
by her side. Sometimes a flock is seen to leave a sand-bar, and fly off
in a direct course, each individual apparently intent on distancing
his companions; and then their mingling cries of _ha_, _ha_, _hack_,
_hack_, _cae_, _cae_, fill the air. I once saw one of these birds fly
round a whole flock that had alighted, keeping at the height of about
twenty yards, but now and then tumbling as if its wings had suddenly
failed, and again almost upsetting, in the manner of the Tumbler
Pigeon.
On the 5th of May 1837, I was much surprised to find a large flock of
Skimmers alighted and apparently asleep, on a dry grassy part of the
interior of Galveston Island in Texas, while I was watching some marsh
hawks that were breeding in the neighbourhood. On returning to the
shore, however, I found that the tide was much higher than usual, in
consequence of a recent severe gale, and had covered all the sand banks
on which I had at other times observed them resting by day.
The instinct or sagacity which enables the Razor-bills, after being
scattered in all directions in quest of food during a long night,
often at great distances from each other, to congregate again towards
morning, previously to their alighting on a spot to rest, has appeared
to me truly wonderful; and I have been tempted to believe that the
place of rendezvous had been agreed upon the evening before. They have
a great enmity towards Crows and Turkey Buzzards when at their breeding
ground, and on the first appearance of these marauders, some dozens of
Skimmers at once give chase to them, rarely desisting until quite out
of sight.
Although parties of these birds remove from the south to betake
themselves to the eastern shores, and breed there, they seldom arrive
at Great Egg Harbour before the middle of May, or deposit their eggs
until a month after, or about the period when, in the Floridas and
on the coast of Georgia and South Carolina, the young are hatched.
To these latter sections of the country we will return, Reader, to
observe their actions at this interesting period. Were I to speak of
the vast numbers that congregate for the purpose of breeding, some of
my readers might receive the account with as little favour as they have
accorded to that which I have given of the wild pigeons; and therefore
I will present you with a statement by my friend the Rev. JOHN BACHMAN,
which he has inserted in my journal. “These birds are very abundant,
and breed in great numbers on the sea islands at Bull’s Bay. Probably
twenty thousand nests were seen at a time. The sailors collected an
enormous number of their eggs. The birds screamed all the while, and
whenever a Pelican or Turkey Buzzard passed near, they assailed it by
hundreds, pouncing on the back of the latter, that came to rob them of
their eggs, and pursued them fairly out of sight. They had laid on the
dry sand, and the following morning we observed many fresh-laid eggs,
when some had been removed the previous afternoon.” Then, Reader, judge
of the deafening angry cries of such a multitude, and see them all over
your head begging for mercy as it were, and earnestly urging you and
your cruel sailors to retire and leave them in the peaceful charge of
their young, or to settle on their lovely rounded eggs, should it rain
or feel chilly.
The Skimmer forms no other nest than a slight hollow in the sand.
The eggs, I believe, are always three, and measure an inch and three
quarters in length, an inch and three-eighths in breadth. As if to be
assimilated to the colours of the birds themselves, they have a pure
white ground, largely patched or blotched with black or very dark
umber, with here and there a large spot of a light purplish tint. They
are as good to eat as those of most Gulls, but inferior to the eggs
of Plovers and other birds of that tribe. The young are clumsy, much
of the same colour as the sand on which they lie, and are not able to
fly until about six weeks, when you now perceive their resemblance to
their parents. They are fed at first by the regurgitation of the finely
macerated contents of the gullets of the old birds, and ultimately pick
up the shrimps, prawns, small crabs, and fishes dropped before them.
As soon as they are able to walk about, they cluster together in the
manner of the young of the Common Gannet, and it is really marvellous
how the parents can distinguish them individually on such occasions.
This bird walks in the manner of the Terns, with short steps, and the
tail slightly elevated. When gorged and fatigued, both old and young
birds are wont to lie flat on the sand, and extend their bills before
them; and when thus reposing in fancied security, may sometimes be
slaughtered in great numbers by the single discharge of a gun. When
shot at while on wing, and brought to the water, they merely float, and
are easily secured. If the sportsman is desirous of obtaining more, he
may easily do so, as others pass in full clamour close over the wounded
bird.
RHYNCHOPS NIGRA, _Linn._ Syst Nat. vol i. p. 228.—_Lath._
Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 802.—_Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of
Birds of United States, p. 352.
BLACK SKIMMER, or SHEAR-WATER, RHYNCHOPS NIGRA, _Wils._ Amer.
Ornith. vol. vii. p. 85, pl. 60, fig. 4.—_Nuttall_, Manual,
vol. ii. p. 264.
Adult Male. Plate CCCXXIII.
Bill longer than the head, nearly straight, tetragonal at the base,
suddenly extremely compressed, and continuing so to the end. Upper
mandible much shorter than the lower, its dorsal outline very slightly
convex, its ridge sharp, the sides erect, more or less convex, the
edges approximated so as to leave merely a very narrow groove between
them; the tip a little rounded when viewed laterally. Nasal groove
rather short, narrow near the margin; nostrils linear-oblong, sub-basal
in the soft membrane. Lower mandible with the angle extremely short,
the dorsal outline straight or slightly decurved, the sides erect, the
edges united into a very thin blade which fits into the narrow groove
of the upper mandible, the tip rounded or abrupt when viewed laterally.
Head rather large, oblong, considerably elevated in front. Neck short
and thick. Body short, ovate, and compact. Feet short, moderately
stout; tibia bare below, with narrow transverse scutella before and
behind; tarsus short, moderately compressed, anteriorly covered with
broad scutella, reticulated on the sides and behind; toes very small;
the first extremely short, and free; the inner much shorter than the
outer, which is but slightly exceeded by the middle toe; the webs
very deeply concave at the margin, especially the inner. Claws long,
compressed, tapering, slightly arched, rather obtuse, the inner edge
of the middle toe dilated and extremely thin. Plumage moderately full,
soft, and blended; the feathers oblong and rounded. Wings extremely
elongated, and very narrow; the primary quills excessively long; the
first longest, the rest rapidly graduated; the secondaries short,
broad, incurved, obliquely pointed, some of the inner more elongated.
Tail rather short, deeply forked, of twelve feathers, disposed in two
inclined planes.
Bill of a rich carmine, inclining to vermilion for about half its
length, the rest black. Iris hazel. Feet of the same colour as the base
of the bill, claws black. The upper parts are deep brownish-black; the
secondary quills, and four or five of the primaries, tipped with white;
the latter on their inner web chiefly. Tail-feathers black, broadly
margined on both sides with white, the outer more extensively; the
middle tail-coverts black, the lateral black on the inner and white on
the outer web. A broad band of white over the forehead, extending to
the fore part of the eye; cheeks and throat of the same colour; the
rest of the neck and lower parts in spring and summer of a delicate
cream-colour; axillary feathers, lower wing-coverts, and a large
portion of the secondary quills, white; the coverts along the edge of
the wing black.
Length from point of upper mandible to end of tail 20 inches, to end
of wings 24-1/2, to end of claws 17; to carpal joint 8-1/4; extent of
wings 48; upper mandible 3-1/8; its edge 3-7/8; from base to point of
lower mandible 4-1/2; depth of bill at the base 1; wing from flexure
15-3/4; tail to the fork 3-1/2; to end of longest feather 5-1/4; tarsus
1-1/4; hind toe and claw 4/12; middle toe 10/12; its claw 4/12. Weight
13 oz.
The female, which is smaller, is similar to the male, but with the
tail-feathers white, excepting a longitudinal band including the shaft.
Length to end of tail 16-3/4, to end of wings 20-1/4, to end of claws
16-1/4, to carpus 8; extent of wings 44-1/2. Weight 10 oz.
After the first autumnal moult, there is on the hind part of the neck
a broad band of white mottled with greyish-black; the lower parts
pure white, the upper of a duller black; the bill and feet less richly
coloured.
Length to end of tail 16-3/4 inches, to end of wings 20, to end of
claws 14-1/2, to carpus 6-3/8; extent of wings 42.
In some individuals at this period, the mandibles are of equal length.
The palate is flat, with two longitudinal series of papillæ directed
backwards. The upper mandible is extremely contracted, having
internally only a very narrow groove, into which is received the single
thin edge of the lower mandible. The posterior aperture of the nares
is 1-5/12 inch long, with a transverse line of papillae at the middle
on each side, and another behind. The tongue is sagittiform, 6-1/2
twelfths long, with two conical papillae at the base, soft, fleshy,
flat above, horny beneath. Aperture of the glottis 4-1/2 twelfths long,
with numerous small papillae behind. Lobes of the liver equal, 1-1/2
inch long. The heart of moderate size, 1-1/12 long, 10 twelfths broad.