2CX) 



key to the water birds of florida. 



Family RHYNCHOPID.E. Skimmers. 



Genus RHYNCHOPS Linn. 



n 



RHYNCHOPS NIGRA Lmn. 

 Black Skimmer. 



Adult in sttmmer : Bill thin, knife-like, lower mandible the longer, basal half vermillion red, 

 blackish at tip ; forehead, lores, and cheeks, and entire under part to crissum, and tips of second- 

 aries white ; under Hning of wing and axillars white ; rest of plumage black ; tail white, the 

 shafts of the feathers brownish above. 



Adiilt in ivinter : Similar but browner, and showing a white nuchal collar. 



Length, i8 to 20; Wing, 15 ; Tail, 5.50; Tarsus, 1.25 ; Bill (culmen), 2.70 ; Gonys, 4.25. 



A common resident in Florida, it breeds on the Atlantic coast from Florida 

 to Virginia. The eggs, usually four, are brownish white blotched with 

 chocolate brown; they are deposited on the sand without any nest. 



Range : " Warmer parts of America north on the Atlantic coast to New 

 Jersey and casually to the Bay of Fundy." (a.o.u.) 



