26o SWIMMERS. 



This is the most northerly in its range of the Jaegers, and has 

 the widest distribution. Its breeding area Hes exclusively within 

 the Arctic Circle, and follows that line throughout its circuit. These 

 birds appear off the New England coasts during the spring and 

 fall, and at those seasons are common in the Bay of Fundy. They 

 winter southward as far as the Gulf of Mexico. 



In its habits the Long-tailed Jaeger does not differ materially 

 from the other species. 



BLACK SKIMMER. 



scissor-bill. 

 Rynchops nigra. 



Char. Upper parts black, deeper on the wings ; outer tail-feathers 

 white ; forehead, patch on the wings, and under parts white ; bill long 

 and compressed, the lower mandible much longer than the upper ; basal 

 half of bill bright red, the rest black ; legs and feet red. Length 17 to 19 

 inches. 



Nest. A slight hollow scratched in the sand of a sea-beach or barren 

 island. 



Eggs. 2-5 ; creamy white or pale buff boldly marked with rich brown 

 and lilac; average size about 1.75 X i-35- 



The Cut-water, or Black Skimmer, is a bird of passage in 

 the United States, appearing in New Jersey from its tropical 

 winter quarters early in May. Here it resides, and breeds in 

 its favorite haunts along the low sand-bars and dry flats of the 

 strand, in the immediate vicinity of the ocean. The nests of 

 these birds have been found along the shores of Cape May 

 about the beginning of June, and consist of a mere hollow 

 scratched out in the sand, without the addition of any extrane- 

 ous materials. As the birds, like the Terns and Gulls, to which 

 they are allied, remain gregarious through the breeding-season, 

 it is possible to collect a half bushel or more of the eggs from 

 a single sand-bar within the compass of half an acre ; and 

 though not very palatable, they are still eaten by the inhabi- 

 tants of the coast. The female only sits on her nest during 

 the night or in wet and stormy weather ; but the young 



