SURF BIRD 275 



At other seasons the surf bird feeds along the water line on ocean 

 beaches, preferring the rocky or stony shores, or reefs exposed at 

 low tide ; here it extracts the soft parts of barnacles, mussels, or other 

 crustaceans and small mollusks, or picks up other minute forms of 

 marine life. It also feeds to some extent at the surf line on sandy 

 beaches or on mud flats, where it picks up similar food from the 

 surface without probing for it. At such times the birds are quite 

 pugnacious unless sufficiently scattered. 



Behavior. — Mr. Dixon (1927) writes: 



On June 18 three surf birds were seen close under the summit of a mountain. 

 Here they occasionally ran about and picked up insects, but more often they 

 stood still on exposed rocks and preened their feathers. One of these three 

 birds frequently raised botli wings willet fashion over its back until they 

 almost met. These individuals were exceedingly shy and would not allow the 

 naturalist to approach closer than 100 yards. We found that this timidity 

 was customary during the nesting season, when the birds were encountered 

 away from the immediate vicinity of the nest. 



At 8 o'clock on the evening of June 24 I climbed to the crest of a sharp ridge 

 of one of the lower spurs of the main Alaskan Range. As I reached the highest 

 peak four surf birds flew in from a distance. As they circled about the peak 

 they called, tee, tee teet loudly. Their flis;ht was swift and plover-like. As 

 they turned the white basal portions of their tails together with the white 

 bars of their wings formed four white V's which stood out vividly in the 

 strong glow of the evening sun. They circled the peak several times, calling 

 loudly and evidently seeking for others of their kind. Soon there was an 

 answering call from the ground and the four birds settled down on a rocky 

 spur where three other surf birds were already feeding. When I crawled up 

 to within 50 yards of them all seven birds ceased feeding and began to call 

 loudly. After a period of several minutes tliey began to feed again, one 

 remaining on guard while the others ran hilher and thither chasing insects 

 over the rocks and tundra. 



Florence M. Bailey (1916) says of the behavior of surf birds on 

 the California coast : 



At high tide one day two of the surf birds were standing on the sand ridge 

 just above the water resting from their labors, one with its back to the in- 

 coming waves staring ahead of it as if lost in reverie. On the beach one of the 

 silent, solitary Aphrizas would often stand facing me, as if studying nie intently, 

 when, though I could not read its innermost thoughts, I had a good chance to 

 note its light forehead and eye line, its white underparts, and streaked chest. 

 Two of the droll birds were found one day engaged in an amusing performance 

 that suggested the .sparring of boys. One turned sideways to the other as if 

 on guard, then dropped the wing on that side and spread its tail till the while 

 rump showed. The other in turn spread its tail and they bopped over each 

 other, doing this a number of times. They would also dip their bills menac- 

 ingly, and one of them sat down several times as part of the play. As they 

 flew off they gave their wild Jcey-iv^-ah. 



When wanting to move down the beacli one often flew close along under the 

 green wall of the combing surf. When it alit its wings would be held out 

 for an instant showing the clear white line down their length and the broad 

 white base of the tail with the dusky tip. When on shore they stood around 



