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buoy that warns them of the sunken rocks below, as this 

 homeless wanderer, whose manner informs them of the approach 

 of the storm, and thereby enables them to prepare for it.' 



It is quick and lively in flight. Audubon says, 'It keeps 

 its wings nearly at right angles with its body, and makes 

 considerable use of its feet, particularly during calm weather, 

 when it at times hops or leaps for several feet, or pats the 

 water, whilst its wings are extended upwards with a fluttering 

 motion, and it inclines its head downward to pick up its food 

 from the water; and I have observed it immerse the whole 

 head beneath the surface to seize on small fishes, in which it 

 generally succeeded. It can walk pretty well on the deck of 

 a vessel, or any other flat surface, and rise from it without 

 much difficulty.' 



Its food consists of small fish, mollusca, Crustacea, and sea 

 plants. 



'Its notes resemble the syllables 'kee-re kee-kee,' uttered 

 'tempo commodo.' They are more frequently emitted at night 

 than by day.' 



These birds appear to build in numbers, about the be- 

 ginning of June, on sandy islands, in which they burrow 

 small holes to the depth of two feet or two and a half: the 

 necessary bedding provided is a little grass. 



The egg is a single one, and its colour white. 



The young are able to go to sea by the beginning of 

 August. 



Male; length, seven inches and a half; bill, black; iris, dark 

 brown. Head, crown, neck, and nape, dark brownish black; 

 ehin, throat, and breast, sooty black, the latter towards the 

 tail white on the sides; back, dusky black, on the lower 

 part, uniting with the tail coverts, white. Greater wing 

 coverts, dark rusty brownish black; primaries, dark brownish 

 black; secondaries, dark rusty brownish black, lighter coloured 

 near the end, and the extreme edges and tips white. Tail, 

 dark brownish black, the base of the three outer feathers 

 white; upper tail coverts, white; under tail coverts, sooty black, 

 but some of them tipped with white. Legs, long and slender, 

 and, as the toes and claws, black; webs, black with an 

 oblong-shaped greyish yellow patch on each. 



The female resembles the male in appearance. 



