NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 45 



the under mandible of which is much longer than the 

 upper, and compressed like a knife blade, the end being 

 obtuse. The bird seems to feed as it skims low over the 

 water, the under mandible grazing the surface. Like 

 the terns, the Skimmers breed in communities. On the 

 coast of Virginia Mr. T. W. Richards found them breed- 

 ing in immense colonies in the month of June. The eggs 



30. BLACK SKIMMER. 



were deposited in hollows of the sand bars and, when the 



birds are not molested, four eggs are laid, at least as often as three. This species is 

 known by several names, such as "Razor-bill," "Cut-water," "Shear-water," "Sea 

 Crow" and "Sea Dog;" the latter name it receives from its cries, which resemble 

 somewhat the barking of a dog. It breeds on Cobb's Island, Va., in the last of June. 

 Mr. H. C. Stuart informs me that this species nests along the Gulf coast of Florida 

 ir. "/lay and June, depositinc in hollows of the sand from three to five eggs. He says 

 ho har:, frequently taken setc containing five eggs. Mr. C. S. Shick, of Sea Isle City, 

 X. u., vritcr-i 310 that he has taken eggs as early as May 26, on the New Jersey coast. 

 Hie, experience iz that four "eggs are oftener laid than three, which is generally stated 

 to be the usual number. The eggs arc among the most beautiful of all eggs; they are 

 white and pale buff, rather coarsely spotted and blotched with brown, blackish- 

 umber and lilac of varying shades, with neutral tint shell blotches; sizes range from 

 1.65 to 1.98 in length by 1.31 to 1.40 in breadth. 



* * WANDERING ALBATROSS. Diomedca exulans Linn. Geog. Dist. 

 Southern seas, north very irregularly to Florida (Tampa Bay?) and coast of Wash- 

 ington. (?) 



The Wandering Albatross is now assigned to the Hypothetical List of the A. 0. 

 U. Check List. It is said to have occurred in Tampa Bay, Florida, and also off the 

 coast of the State of Washington. Both of these records are unsatisfactory. This 

 albatross wanders over the vast waters of southern seas ranging as far north on the 

 Atlantic coast of Africa as the Canary Islands, on that of South America to Trinidad 

 Island and beyond. The bird has been taken in Europe and was admitted to the 

 North American fauna on the grounds of its occurrence as above stated. It has been 

 found breeding on various islands of the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans, on Prince 

 Edward's, Crozete, and Kerguelen Islands lying southeast of Africa, and on the 

 Island of Tristan d'Acunda to the southwest. At the latter place it breeds in 

 January, nesting on the highest ledges of the cliffs. Dr. J. H. Kidder met with a 

 number of these birds nesting on Kerguelen Island on the 2d of January. The nests 

 were upon tall mounds, built up of grass to the height of two or more feet from the 

 ground, and, being of different heights, seemed to have been used again and added 

 to year after year. Dr. Kidder counted twenty-three birds in sight at one time, 

 each perched upon its nest. Driven from the ijests and compelled to walk, the birds 

 looked not unlike overgrown geese.* Three eggs of this species are in the collection 

 of Mr. C. W. Crandall, of Woodside, N. Y. They were taken January 22, 1886, on 

 South Georgia Island, east of Cape Horn. The birds were captured. The nests wera 

 built up from the ground of mud and coarse tussock grass. In shape the eggs are al- 

 most equal-ended and measure respectively as follows: 5.43x3.08, 5.36x3.21, 4.94x3.21. 

 On the first the coloration is dull white for the surface, beautifully ringed about the 



* Bulletin No. 2, United States National Museum, p. 20. 



