22 



Before their recent wholesale slaughter for millinery purposes they 

 were familiar and attractive objects along all our coasts, where 

 now few are to be seen. (See Cases F, J, and L.) 



The Skimmers (family Rhynchopidci) are, in general appearance, 

 large Terns with a vertically flattened bill. They even excel the 

 Terns in gracefulness of flight. (See Cases F, J, and L.) 



Order VIII, Tubinares, consists of three families of wide-rang- 

 ing, long-winged sea-birds, the Albatrosses {Diofnedeida), the 

 Petrels, Fulmars, and Shearwaters {Procellariidce), and the Diving 

 Petrels {Pelecanoididce). The Albatrosses present the greatest 

 stretch of wing of any known bird, the Wandering Albatross 

 {Diomedea exulans) measuring fourteen feet from tip to tip of the 

 outstretched wings. They appear to be always on the wing, and 

 at home in mid-ocean. The group is not numerous in species, 

 and is best represented in the intertropical and south temperate 

 seas. (See Cases F, J, and L.) 



Some of the Procellariidce, as the Giant Fulmar, are nearly as 

 large as the smaller Albatrosses ; the greater number are small, 

 the true Petrels (or the Stormy Petrels) ranging from the size of 

 a Thrush to that of a Pigeon. They are all graceful, tireless 

 wanderers over oceanic wastes. Some indication of their variety 

 of form may be seen in Cases F, J, and L. The Diving Petrels 

 form the single genus Pelecanoides. They nest in holes or bur- 

 rows like the true Petrels. (See Case L.) 



Order IX, Stega/iopodes, consists of six families of aquatic birds 

 which have the toes fully webbed. (See Cases E, F, J, and L.) 

 They are the Tropic Birds (family Phaethontidce), of which there 

 are but three species, inhabiting the intertropical seas, and re- 

 markable for the great length of their two middle tail feathers ; 

 the Gannets (family Sulidce\ about six Species — large, heavy, fish- 

 eating sea-birds, gregarious in habits, and found in nearly all 

 parts of the world ; the Snake-birds {AnhingidcB), three or four 

 species, inhabiting the coasts and rivers of warm countries, re- 

 markable for their long, slender, snake-like neck and bill ; the 

 Cormorants (family Phalacrocoracidce)^ about thirty species, found 

 about the sea-coasts and inland waters of all parts of the world, 



