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" It frequents the rice fields and fresh water ponds in com|)any 

 with the preceding, whose general habits it resembles." 



In severe stormy weather, these birds are sometimes driven to sea. 

 Recently a statement was given in one of the daily journals, of a 

 bird having flown on board a vessel while off the southern coast— 

 from the description, I have no doubt that it was an individual of 

 this species. 



Since writing the above, I have seen an adult male and female, 

 that were met with at sea, when three hundred miles to the south- 

 ward, and eastward from the Balize. It does not seem that they 

 were travelling in company, fourteen hours elapsing between their 

 arrival. The first alighted on the vessel— -the second, in attempt- 

 ing to alight, fell into the sea, so much exhausted that it could not 

 rise. Attached to the end of a line, a log was thrown over, which 

 it succeeded in gaining- — and by this means was taken on board. — 

 It fell into the water a short distance astern of the ship — the vessel 

 moving slowly at the time, favored its escape. In a short time they 

 recruited, and arrived in New York in good condition. The gen- 

 tleman to whom they were presented, informed me that he fed them 

 with meal, fish, bread, and various articles of diet from the table ; 

 he also furnished them with water for bathing, of which they made 

 free use. They appeared to be quite contented in their new home, 

 and seemed to enjoy perfect health until the expiration of three 

 months, when the female was suddenly seized with cramps, and 

 shortly died— the male surviving but a few days after. 



