508 Nichols, Xotes on Offshore Birds. Ibct" 



appeared in the trough of a sea near the vessel almost immediately, 

 was noticeably smaller than the first bird. Two or three other 

 birds, obviously Puffinida?, were seen later in the day, but these 

 were the only ones which came within fair binocular range. The 

 flight and appearance of the Black-capped Petrel were very much 

 like those of the Greater Shearwater. The distinguishing large 

 amount of white over the tail was conspicuous. 



January 26, 27° IS' North 79° 40' West, approaching the Florida 

 coast, two or three Audubon's Shearwaters were seen; and January 

 27, 24° 20' North 81° 10' West, crossing from Florida to Cuba, 

 they were common, but none were seen on the Cuban side of the 

 Straits. I quote from my notes, "Blue water; practically no gulf 

 weed. Wind moderate, 45° on our port bow. The Shearwaters 

 were mostly flying parallel with the ship at about her speed, off her 

 leeward bow. They crossed the bow from time to time and flew 

 up to windward; apparently they had been flying into the wind, 

 planning to pass in front of the ship, and did not allow for her prog- 

 ress. None were seen behind the ship or amidships to windward. 

 They flew very close to the water, flapping a great deal, the sails 

 much abbreviated. Sometimes one would half light and. with 

 wings extended, kick itself into the air again with its feet against 

 the water. Their rather long tails were noticeable. 



Coming north from Santiago de Cuba on February 1, passing 

 the Bahamas, a single Tropic Bird was seen 24° 40' North 74° 30' 

 West, and two or three Puffinidre in the distance were probably 

 Audubon's Shearwater. February 2, 2S° 35' North 74° 35' West, 

 cloudy with fresh east-northeasterly wind, blue water and gulf 

 weed, by watching diligently saw one Black-capped Petrel (.Estrc- 

 lata hasitata) which flew along with the vessel for a few minutes 

 off her starboard quarter. It resembled the one seen on January 25. 

 but was not so close to the ship. Noted the white underwing sur- 

 faces, long wings, and conspicuous white wedge of the upper tail 

 coverts. The first Herring Gull appeared February 3. 33° 45' North 

 74° 35' West, but these were not common until the next day. We 

 were coming north further off shore than the Havana route, which 

 perhaps accounts for the fact that a number of Ivittiwakes (Rissa 

 tridactyla tridactyla) were seen February 4, in the morning. 37° 

 46' North 74° 10' West (S5 miles east of Maryland). They were 

 absent after that until about sunset, when we were getting close 



