66 THE BIRDS OF NEW JERSEY. 



Jersey in its spring and fall migrations; it is a regular 

 but rare visitant, occurring in New Jersey about the first 

 of May and again in September and the first part of Oc- 

 tober. It is thirteen and a half inches in length and the 

 general color of its plumage is of a dark slate, with a suf- 

 fusion of brown. Its bill is four-fifths of an inch in length 

 and red in color. It has a bare bright red plate on the 

 top of the head, extending half an inch between the eyes; 

 belly, light gray; tail, slate on the upper surface and 

 white underneath; legs, green. Its loud chuck is occa- 

 sionally heard, but only on large rivers, which is fre- 

 quents for food, this consisting of small animals, seeds 

 and vegetable growths. Its flesh is considered excellent 

 for the table. 



(jfitmiu. See English Sparrow. 



. This bird is extremely scarce in New Jersey, 

 one being occasionally taken along the coast. They breed 

 north of New Jersey and spend the winter in the south. 

 The Gannet is about thirty-five inches in length and its 

 plumage is white, with a suffusion of straw yellow, 

 especially on the head; the larger wing feathers are of a 

 dark slate. The birds generally appear in small straggling 

 flocks, flying over the ocean in search of fish, which they 

 take from the water. 



Gnatcatcher, Blue-Gray. This bird is very rare in 

 New Jersey and has been found only in the southern part, 

 where it breeds occasionally. Its nest is a beautiful lichen 

 covered structure, closely resembling that of the Hum- 

 mingbird, but larger. It frequents the highest branches 

 of trees and is very shy. It is about four and a half 

 inches in length; above, blue gray, with a jet black band 

 across the nostrils, and a white edging to the innermost wing 

 feathers. The under parts are a gray- white and the tail 

 is black and white. The female lacks the black band over 

 the nostrils. 



