4b Nichols, Recognilion Marks in Birch. [jan. 



a species which should have been in southern waters at the season 

 when they were observed there. When one was seen at a distance 

 it was recognized at once by its striking color scheme, and I knew 

 that though its course might lie across that of the ship it would not 

 come about or follow her. 



Then there are small albatrosses resembling one another in size 

 and doubtless in feeding habits, belonging to Diomedea and Thalas- 

 sogeron, collectively called "Molly-hawk" by sailors. They 

 have the same type of coloration, white with a blackish mantle 

 solid across the back, whereas the large Albatross Diomedea 

 exulans, which has somewhat different habits on account of its 

 much greater size, has the center of the back white. Although the 

 large Albatross is of quite different build from the smaller ones, 

 at long and uncertain range this difference of pattern was found 

 to be the readiest and surest way of identifying it. 



The sailing flight characteristic of petrels and albatrosses, in 

 which the bird glides inclined first to one side, then to the other, 

 displays particularly well the patterns of both upper and lower 

 surfaces. The white rump of the Mother Carey's Chickens is not 

 noticeable among the white-caps when the birds flit aimlessly 

 hither and thither, but when they fly steadily in one direction, their 

 unchanging position makes them conspicuous from the rear. At 

 times one sees streams of Mother Carey's Chickens flying swiftly 

 and steadily in one direction, quite unlike their usual custom. 

 I fancy that if any delectable food becomes available, birds at a 

 distance see others go to it and fly towards them, and we presently 

 have streams of birds flying towards it from all the surrounding 

 sea. When Fregetta grallaria gather to feed, the white rumps 

 and lower surfaces of the high-held wings make a twinkling white 

 effect conspicuous at considerable distance. 



To turn to an entirely different group of birds, the writer has 

 in the past few months had much experience with the Limicolse. 

 These are mostly flocking species, usually strong flyers, and preyed 

 upon to an unusual degree by hawks, which attack them from 

 above. In the main the species are concealingly colored. The 

 AVoodcock and Wilson's Snipe are particularly so. The Ring-neck 

 and Piping Plovers match admirably the flats and dry sand they 

 respectively frequent. The Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers- 



