RHYNCHOPS NIGRA : BLACK SKIMMER. 379 



bred here. But on Brigantirxe Beach, and at Little Egg 

 Harbor, they are abundant, and breed in numbers." 



There was evidently an irruption of Skimmers upon 

 the New England coast in 1879. In addition to the 

 above notices, see also Boardman, Oologist, v, 1879, P- 

 13, and especially Purdie, Bull. Nutt. Club, vii, 1882, p. 

 125. Mr. Purdie, in this place, brings up an old record, 

 published over two hundred and fifty years ago in Cham- 

 plain's Voyages, to the effect that a bird which, from 

 the description, was unquestionably this species, was 

 seen by Champlain while cruising off Cape Cod in July, 

 1605, Mr. Purdie adds : "That this species was found 

 on our shores early in this century is proved by the older 

 inhabitants of the place telling me that 'them cutwater 

 or shearwater birds used to be with us summer times.' 

 Also, Mr. Brewster informs me, that Nantucket fisher- 

 men assert that Skimmers bred on Muskegat Island 

 fifty years ago." 



