86 BIRDS OF THE NEW YORK CITY REGION 



WILSON'S PETREL (Oceanites oceanicus) Fig. 4 



This species is a common summer visitor off-shore, regu- 

 larly entering the Sound and the Harbor and sometimes 

 observed from the beaches in large numbers. The blackish 

 coloration, white rump, long thin wings and fluttering, hover- 

 ing flight just above the water, render them unmistakable. 



Long Island. Common summer visitant, May 29 to September 

 14; most numerous in July and August. 



ORIENT. Irregularly common summer visitant, May 29, 

 1915 to September 11, 1916. 



MASTIC. Occasionally seen off the beach. Numerous on 

 June 30, 1913. 



LONG BEACH. Abundant a mile or two off-shore; seen 

 from the beach on several occasions June 16, 1919 to August 

 18, 1921 (Bicknell). 



New York State. Regular, often abundant in the harbor, 

 noted as late as September 6, 1907 (Chapin). Rarely seen above 

 the Battery. 



New Jersey. One record for Newark Bay, June 16, 1916 

 (Urner). 



ENGLEWOOD REGION. Known to have ascended the Hud- 

 son as far as Fort Lee Ferry on one occasion, first week in 

 August, 1915 (Chapman). 



BOOBY (Sula leucogastra) 



Accidental from the tropics. One record, Moriches Bay, 

 Long Island, many years ago. 



GANNET (Sula bassana) 



The Gannet occurs as a common transient off-shore, but is 

 regularly seen from the ocean beaches, and on rare occasions 

 fishes in the surf. It can be readily identified at great dis- 

 tances, whether the white adult or brown immature, by its 

 great size, broad wings, slow powerful wing-beats, and its 

 flight, which is in great curves. The long triangular bill is 

 carried downward, preventing confusion with a Cormorant. 

 It thinks nothing of diving head first into the water from a 



