420 LARID.E, 



the bill, which, on missing the object aimed at, close with a 

 snap. Some which I kept several days refused all kinds of 

 food, became dull and languid, and at length died. While 

 hovering over us near their nests, these birds emitted a low 

 querulous murmur, and, if unmolested, would attempt to 

 alight on our heads. After a few visits, however, they be- 

 came rather more careful of themselves, although the sitting 

 birds often suffered us to put a hat over them. This species 

 incubates both day and night." 



Dr. Latham, in his Synopsis, observes that this bird is said 

 to breed in the Bahama Islands, laying the eggs on the bare 

 rocks ; on the Roca Islands, and various parts of the coast 

 of Brazil, and Cayenne. Catesby, in his Natural History of 

 Carolina, mentions having seen this bird more than a hundred 

 leagues from land. According to Mr. Collie''s notes, this 

 species was seen in the Pacific at several different places at 

 various seasons of the year, as mentioned in the volume de- 

 voted to the Zoology of Captain Beechey''s voyage in the 

 Blossom, p. 38. 



In the adult bird the bill is black, from the base of the bill 

 to the eye is also black ; irides brown ; the forehead and 

 crown buff-colour ; occiput smoke-grey ; the whole of the 

 body above and below and all the wing- coverts dark choco- 

 late-brown ; primaries and tail-feathers brownish-black ; legs, 

 toes, membranes, and claws black. The whole length of the 

 specimen here figured and described fourteen inches and a 

 half to the end of the tail, which is graduated, the middle 

 pair of feathers being the longest ; the wing, from the carpal 

 joint to the end of the first cjuill-feather ten inches and a 

 half. 



