74 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



distinguished from the preceding species in all plumages by the tail having 

 only 12 feathers. Wing 11.75 to 13.00 ; culmen 2.25. 



Geog. Dist. — Atlantic coast of North America, south in winter to the 

 Southern States ; breeding from Black Horse Ledge, Maine, northward. 



County Records. — Cumberland ; apparently an uncommon winter resident, 

 (Brown, C. B. P. p. 33). Hancock; local summer resident, usually about 

 50 individuals occurring along the coast of the county in summer, a few only 

 of which breed, in winter general and more common coastwise, (Knight). 

 Knox ; migrant, (Rackliff ) . Penobscot ; one shot at Kingman about Nov. 

 18, 1895, by Rev. J. W, Hatch is now in the University of Maine collection, 

 (Knight). Sagadahoc; a few from fall to spring, (Spinney). Waldo; seen 

 roosting on spar buoys near Islesboro in summer, more general in fall and 

 winter about the bay, (Knight). Washington; common in migration, 

 (Boardman). 



As a generally distributed species along the coast it is most 



numerous in point of numbers in fall and spring, but occurs 



also in winter. During the summer solitary individuals may be 



seen roosting on spar buoys along the coast east of Rockland. 



While they roost in summer in considerable numbers on several 



rocky ledges off the coast of Hancock and Washington Counties, 



the only place along the coast where they are known to breed 



is at Black Horse Ledge, near Isle au Haut. While fifteen to 



twenty individuals may be seen here during the summer, I have 



never seen more than five nests on this ledge at a time, and 



more often only one or two nests. Fresh eggs are usually 



found there in late June or early July if at all, for some years 



they do not seem to nest there though frequenting the place in 



usual numbers. The nest is a very slight, in fact scarcely 



noticeable affair of sticks and seaweed, with occasionally a few 



rotten fish thrown in as good measure. The two to four bluish 



white, chalky coated eggs are often badly stained by the nest 



material. Three eggs from Black Horse Ledge, July 2, 1895, 



measure 2.31 x 1.55, 2.44 x 1.54, 2.46 x 1,50. This ledge rises 



sharply from the ocean to a height of about 75 feet and the 



nests are on shelves on the most precipitous side. The birds 



perch in a row along this ledge, facing any approaching boat, 



until it is as near as they deem safe when almost instantly they 



rise, turning if necessary to face the wind before flying. 



