188 



TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS — STEGANOPODES. 



i 



On the 10th of May Mr. Hurdis exi)lored for miles the rugged coast frequented by 

 these birds, and found it to all appearanc? deserted, not only by them, but by every 

 other species of sea-bird ; but on a careful examination the rocky cliffs were discovered 

 to abound with the Phaeton in the act of incubation. Those not thus employed were 

 seeking food at a distance in the ocean. 



This bird makes no nest ; but having selected a hole or cavity in the rook — some- 

 times elevated, at other times merely beyond the reach of the waves — it invariably 

 lays a single egg. Some of these holes are superficial ; others, in the softej rock, ap- 

 pear like a rabbit's burrow ; and in a few instances he found the entrance barely larg(! 

 enough to admit the arm, and too deep to allow the egg to be reached witli the hand. 

 In one instance he could only ascertain the presence of the old bird by touching it 

 with the end of the ramrod, and thus causing it to give utterance to its well-known 

 grating cry. 



• When the breeding-place is intruded upon, the sitting bird makes no effort to 

 escape, but allows itself to be taken by the hand — not, however, without some resist- 

 ance from its strong and sharp-pointed bill ; both male and female may be captured 

 in this manner. According to Mr. Hurdis, the egg varies considerably in color. Some 

 specimens are of a reddish gray, thickly covered with streaks and blotches of Indian- 

 red, deepest at the larger end ; others are drab, finely speckled with che same deej) 

 red. The young remain in the nest, vv breeding-place, until capable of flight. They 

 are at first covered with a long white down, which gradually disappears as the biid 

 advances in growth. 



From the diminutive size and backward position of the feet, this bird is unable 

 to walk in the ordinary mode ; but, resting its breast on the ground, and partially 

 spreading its wings, it shuffles from place to place in a peculiar and awkward 

 manner. 



Mr. E. L. Layard states that this species breeds in Mauritius, in the inaccessible 

 sides of the ravines, where, from a curious projection called the " World's End," he 

 often saw them entering the crevices of the rocks on either side. This bird also 

 breeds in hollow trees, and it could frequently be seen flying over the forest and 

 darting into the holes caused by the fall of rotten branches. The first pair he 

 obtained had for several years frequented a large tree, on striking which the birds 

 flew out and were shot. The season was too far advanced to almit of his procuring 

 any of their eggs. 



Mr. Edward Newton, in his visit to the Seychelles Archipelago, near Mauritius, 

 in ascending a mountain, observed this species — the local name of which is Pallh; 

 enqueue — soaring overhead. In his ascent he had seen ont enter a hole in the 

 stump of a dead capuchin-tree about a quarter of a mile off, and on his return he 

 sought the place. The hole was about fifteen feet from the ground ; and his assistant 

 ascended to it, finding only a young bird, which Mr. Newton took home and tried to 

 rear, but without success. 



This species is frequently mentioned as occurring at various localities visited 

 during the voyage of the Wilkes Expedition, and is thus shown to be a widely dis- 

 tributed species. Mr. Peale states that it has been occasionally seen on the southern 

 sea-coast of the United States. Soon after the Expedition left Chesapeake Bay, and 

 when in lat. 38° 13' N., long. 60° 35' W., this bird was met with ; which is proba- 

 bly the northern limit of its range. He expresses a belief that a few of this species 

 breed on that part of our coast ; as he has known young birds, just fledged, to bo 

 killed on the Potomac in the month of October. It was also frequently seen in the 

 Pacific Ocean, but never so far to the north. It was always seen in the greatest 



