38 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



Sala bassana. 



Several were seen during foul weather, in Februar}' ancVMarcli, 

 both years ; but the species is not a common, if indeed a regular, 

 winter Aisitor. 



Graculus floridanus. 



Cormorants ma}' be seen at intervals the whole year, and are 

 common except during the warmer months. There are two 

 species ; but I did not succeed in ascertaining their times of 

 arrival and departure. The summer birds are all, without doubt, 

 the G. Jloridanus, to which species a full-plumaged specimen, 

 captured in the spring of 1869, belonged ; and the winter ones 

 are in all probability 



Graculus dilophus. 



Very common in winter. Judging from the light brown ap- 

 pearance of most individuals observed at this season, they were 

 chiefly young birds. 



PuflB^nus fuliginosus. 



A specimen taken May 21, 18*70, in fine plumage, but injured 

 in one of the webs ; this disability probably accounting for its 

 exceptional occurrence. It was caught by hand near the shore, 

 and kept alive for some time. Placed on a level surface, it could 

 with difficulty stand upright, and on endeavoring to walk, sprawl- 

 ed with the use of its wings and by hooking itself along with 

 the sharp point of the bill — not, however, grasping with both 

 mandibles. I was before ignorant of this method of assisting 

 locomotion on land, but can readily believe it to be a habit of 

 birds of this family, and a means of approaching and leaving the 

 places where many of the petrels are known to breed. The bird 

 showed some spirit, snapping with all its strength ; but was per- 

 fectly silent.^ 



' Length 18, extent 40, wing 13, tail 4, bill If, tarsus 2|, middle toe and 

 claw 2§. 



Some points in the coloration of this specimen might lead one to suppose 

 it to be a state of P. major. The accompanying cut (of natural size) shows 

 a great irregularity in the contour of the posterior border of the sternum. 



[May 2, 



