NATATORES — LORID.E — RHYNCHOPS. 297 



FAMILY LARIDJE. 



Bill rather longer than the head, hard, straight or only curved at the point, compressed, 

 rarely cylindrical, acute ; margin without denticidations. Wings very long. Legs in 

 or near the equilibrium. The three anterior toes united. Hind toe small, free, sometimes 

 represented by a nail only or altogether wanting. 



GENUS RHYNCHOPS. Linn^us. 



Bill flattened on the sides, and truncated at the point in the form of a blade ; the edges of 

 the upper mandible approaching, and hollowed in the form of a gutter : upper mandible 

 shortest. Nostrils pervious, placed on the lower edge of the upper mandible. Webs of 

 the toes emarginate. Hind toe touching the ground at the tip. Wings much longer than 

 the forked tail, which is composed of twelve feathers. 



THE BLACK SKIMMER. 



Rhynchops nigra. 



plate cxxiii. fig 272. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Rhynchops nigra, LinnJZTJS, p. 228. Culwalcr Shimmer, Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 522: 

 R id., Black Skimmer. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 7, p. 85, pi. 60, fig. 4. Bonap. Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 352. 

 R. id. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 264. Addobon, B. of A. Vol. 7, p. 67, pi. 428. Giraud, Birds of Long 

 island, p. 34G. 



Characteristics. Black ; beneath white tinged with roseate. Bill and feet red : the former 

 dusky at the point. Female : tail-feathers white. Young : a broad 

 mottled greyish band on the back of the neck. Length, 18 "0. 



Description. Lower mandible with numerous parallel oblique elevated lines on its sides, 

 becoming obsolete towards the tip ; at the base, an obtuse angle, and from this angle to the 

 tip (in the female) 3" 5 inches : depth of both mandibles near the base, l.*2. Claws acute 

 and curved. Tarsus longer than the middle toe. Wings 13*0 - 15 - long. Tail forked. 



Color. Upper part of the head, neck, back, scapulars and wings glossy brownish black. 

 Secondaries white on their inner vanes, and tipped with the same. Tail-coverts black, bor- 

 dered with white. Tail-feathers white ; brownish along their shafts. Forehead, chin, sides 

 of the head, neck and all beneath white. In the recent specimens in full plumage, these 

 white under parts have a roseate hue, which disappears in the cabinet. Length, 16 - -20-0. 



The Shearwater, Razor-bill, Cutwater, Skimmer, Flood Gull, and Shippang, for it is 

 known under all these names, reaches our coast from tropical America in May. It breeds 

 [Fauna — Part 2.] 38 



