506 Nichols, Notes on Offshore Birds. [ih\] 



paddles. Kittiwakes were common, and flocks of Eider Ducks 

 were seen about oft' Monomoy. 



On August 7, 1906, sailed east-southeast from New York on a 

 sailing ship. When well to sea Wilson's Petrels (Occanitcs oceani- 

 cns) became numerous and remained so across the Gulf Stream, 

 but had disappeared entirely before reaching 3S° North 04° West 

 on August 11, a point 335 sea miles southeast of Nantucket. A 

 single Limicoline bird came about the ship on August 9, 39° 40' 

 North 70° 14' West and again one on August 12, 37° 02' North 

 59° 27' West, and it was interesting to see this bird east of the 

 Petrels. A broad, almost birdless area of ocean, where Kittiwake 

 Gulls had been seen in winter five years previous, was now crossed. 

 The first three or four days of the voyage a few Swallows were 

 seen, the last surely identified as such on August 9, 39° 40' North 

 70° 14' West, 90 sea miles south of Nantucket, the nearest land. 

 The record is of interest in view of the irregular occurrence of 

 migrant Swallows in Bermuda. 



In summer time, especially after a period of foggy weather, 

 Wilson's Petrels often become Aery abundant close to shore off 

 New York, and enter New York harbor. 



On February 17, 1912, left New York for Havana, Cuba, by sea. 

 The coldness of the passing winter was evidenced by two Holboell's 

 Grebes (Colymbus holboellii) in New York harbor. Other birds of 

 consequence were not observed until the second day, approaching 

 ( Jape Hatteras, where we crossed from the shallow, cold green water 

 to the north, to the deep, warm bine Mater with gulf weed to the 

 south. Just north of this line, over the green water, the air was 

 ftill of haze, and in the haze birds were numerous. There were 

 Red-throated Loons (Gavia stettata), Gannets (Sula bassana'), 

 flocks of medium sized Alcidse (unfortunately not identified), a few 

 Horned Grebes (Coh/mbus auritus), and two Dovekies (AUc (die) 

 were seen. On passing south onto the blue water, all these birds 

 disappeared. A dwindling flock of Herring Gulls (Larus argcitta- 

 tus) still followed the ship, and an occasional Herring Gull was ob- 

 served even from the north shore of Cuba. On February 19, 30° 

 North 77° West (230 miles east of Saint Augustine), steaming 

 through a wonderfully smooth sea, an Audubon's Shearwater 

 (PutJinas Iherminieri) appeared gliding close to the water, gave 



