388 THE TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS — TUBINARES. 



This species was ascertained by Major Wedderbuni to breed on Gurnet-head Eock ; 

 ami is supi^osed to be the same as the bird described as the ''Cahow" by Captain 

 Smitli, ill his account of Bermuda, in 1629. It was found breeding by Captains Orde 

 and McLeod, and specimens of the bird, together with its eggs and young, were 

 procured in INIay, 1849. To this statement Mr. Hurdis adds that this species is 

 still known in Bermuda by the name of "Cahow," which is said to be an imitation 

 of its peculiarly guttural note, described as sounding like the syllables cao-hoo. INIr. 

 Salton Smith, of St. George, informed Mr. Hurdis that he visited Black Rock, at the 

 entrance to Castle Harbor, where he obtained two young birds of this species and 

 a dozen or more of their eggs. Unfortunately his boat was upset, and all the speci- 

 mens lost. The two young birds were both found in the same hole, but the old ones 

 were not seen. On the 17th of IMay, 1819, Captains Orde and McLeod visited Black 

 Rock, landed without difficulty, and on a ledge half way from the summit captured 

 two fine examples of this species. One was sitting on a single white egg ; the other 

 had nothing under it. Both were found in holes in the rock, and allowed themselves 

 to be captured by the hand. A young bird of the same species, covered with black 

 down, was also found upon the rock. The egg is described as about the size of that 

 of the Common Fowl, and more finely polished on the surface. 



Audubon mentions that on the 26th of June, 1826, when becalmed in the Gulf of 

 IMexico, oif the western coast of Florida, he noticed that birds of this species were 

 quite numerous. They were skimming along near the surface of the water, and in 

 doing this would flap their wings six or seven times in succession, and then sail for 

 three or four seconds with great ease, having their tail much spread and their long 

 wings extended at right angles with the body. On approaching a mass of seaweed 

 they would raise their wings obliquely, drop their legs and feet, and appear to run 

 on the water, and at length to alight. They w^ere able to swim and dive with all the 

 ease of a Duck. Their wings are strong and muscular. The stomach of a specimen 

 examined resembled a leather purse, and was found much distended with fish of 

 various kinds, partially digested or entire, some of which were two and a half inches 

 long. Audubon also states that he has met with this species as far north as Sandy 

 Hook ; and it is said by Giraud to visit the coast of Long Island occasionally as 

 a straggler. 



Dr. Bryant, on his visit to the Bahamas, was repeatedly told of a singular bird 

 called the Pimlico, Avhich had a hooked bill, and only flew by night, and which bred 

 in the Keys. This bird proved to be the present species. It was very abundant, 

 and was found on all the uninhabited Keys which were near the channel and not 

 frequently visited. The birds were breeding in holes in the rocks. He first met 

 with them near Nassau, in the Ship-channel Keys. Incubation had already begun 

 on the 24th of March. The nest consisted of a few dry twigs, and was always placed 

 in a hole or under a projecting portion of the rock — seldom more than a foot from 

 the surface, and never out of reach of the hand. On being caught, the bird made no 

 noise and offered no resistance. The egg does not in the least resemble that of 

 a Hen, being much more fragile, and more highly polished. A number of eggs were 

 broken in endeavoring to remove the bird from the nest ; they varied a good deal 

 in size and form, some being (piite rounded, and others elongated. Three of them 

 are said to have had the following measurements: 2.32 inches by 1.41; 2.04 by 1.30; 

 2,01 by 1.45. Both sexes incubate. 



The mournful note of these birds could be heard at all hours of the night by those 

 anchored in the night-time near one of the Keys on which they were breeding. Dur- 

 ing the day they could be seen feeding in large flocks, generally out of sight of land. 



