BLACK SKIMMER. 037 



air, but also that of the water, to overcome, a still greater volume 

 of wing is given, the Shearwater measuring nineteen inches 

 in length, and upwards of forty-four in extent. In short, who- 

 ever has attentively examined this curious apparatus, and ob- 

 served the possessor with his ample wings, long bending neck, 

 and lower mandible occasionally dipt into, and ploughing, the 

 surface, and the facility with which he procures his food, can- 

 not but consider it a mere playful amusement, when compared 

 with the dashing immersions of the Tern, the Gull, or the 

 Fish-Hawk, who, to the superficial observer, appear so superi- 

 orly accommodated. 



The Shearwater is most frequently seen skimming close along 

 shore, about the first of the flood, at which time the young fry, 

 shrimp, &c. , are most abundant in such places. There are also 

 numerous inlets, among the low islands between the sea beach 

 and main land of Cape May, where I have observed the Shear- 

 waters, eight or ten in company, passing and repassing at high- 

 water particular estuaries of those creeks that run up into the 

 salt marshes, dipping, with extended neck, their open bills in- 

 to the water, with as much apparent ease as Swallows glean up 

 flies from the surface. On examining the stomachs of several 

 of these, shot at the time, they contained numbers of a small 

 fish, usually called silver-sides^ from a broad line of a glossy 

 silver colour that runs from the gills to the tail. The mouths 

 of these inlets abound with this fry, or fish, probably feeding 

 on the various matters washed down from the marshes. 



The voice of the Shearwater is harsh and screaming, resem- 

 bling that of the Tern, but stronger. It flies with a slowly flap- 

 ping flight, dipping occasionally, with steady expanded wings, 

 and bended neck, its lower mandible into the sea, and with 

 open mouth receiving its food as it ploughs along the surface. 

 It is rarely seen swimming on the water; but frequently rests 

 in large parties on the sand-bars at low water. One of these 

 birds which I wounded in the wing, and kept in the room be- 

 side me for several days, soon became tame and even familiar. 

 It generally stood with its legs erect, its body horizontal, and 



