r 



wippip 



RHYNCHOPID.E — THE SKIMMERS — lUlYNCHOPS. 



195 



ami scattered parties of this sjiecics skiramiiif,' over the quiet waters of the lagoons 

 and Hooded flats, at high tide, in the middle of the day, near the sea-shore, procuring 

 food; while a flock of from fifty to a hundred were liasking in the sunshine on an 

 island sandflat near by. One of these birds was observed to take a fish which seemed 

 too large to be readily swallowed, and which it carried to a sandbar, and then perched 

 among its fellows. 



In the autumn the Razor-bills are seen to <piit their basking-grounds a little 

 alter sunset, and all fly off in a southerly direction. Tliey skim low over the water; 

 and if the surface is smooth when they come upon a shoal of small fry, they settle 

 down a little, lower the long under-jaw into the water, and at the same moment 

 ccaso to beat the air, but elevate the open wings, and thus move on for a considerable 

 distance. They only carry their bill in the water A\hen there is an immediate pros- 

 ]icct of abundant prey. They return in the morning from their roosting-places, 

 Hying in the same manner as in the evening, but higher, and seem to be less inclined 

 to feed while on their way. They are said to proceed to Charlotte Harbor to pass 

 the night and to feed ; this is distant fifty miles or more. But these statements have 

 not been positively verified. Mi: Moore has never known them to fly over the land, 

 as Gulls and Terns are ofti'u seen to do. 



Mr. Salvin met with this species at the lagoon of Acapam, on the Pacific coast of 

 Guatemala; and I'rofessor Xewton mentions seeing a single example, on the 14th 

 of June, 18.38, between St. Thomas and St. Croix ; it passed close to the vessel on the 

 deck of which he was standing at the time. 



Mr. C. W. Wyatt, in an account of the birds of Colombia, South America, states 

 that wliilo lie was waiting at the Digue, on the banks of the Magdalena lliver, he had 

 several opportunities of watching this curious bird as it flew over the shallows l)y 

 the sandbanks, or ploughed the water and the mud with its scissor-shaped bill. It 

 was not seen l)y him on the lower portion of the Magdalena. 



L('otaud cites this species as an irregular visitant of the Island of TriniiUul, there 

 hi'iiig frc(pient intervals during which it is not seen there; and when it does come it 

 is regarded as the sure herald of the wintry rains. It is preceded in its migrations 

 by all the other birds visiting that island at that season. 



Audubon regarded this liird as being largely nocturnal in its feeding ; and says 

 that it sometimes spends the whole night on the wing, diligently searching for food. 

 Although silent when beginning this occupation, it becomes more and more noisy 

 as darkness draws on ; its call-notes resemble the .syllables /uirk-hurh; repeated at 

 slioit intervals. The same writer states that while at Galveston Island he saw three 

 Razor-bills pursue a Night Heron several hundred yards, as if intent on overtaking 

 it ; their cries during the chcase resembling the barking of a very small dog. 



The flight of this bird is rejuarkable for its elegance, and for the vigor witli which 

 it is maintained against even the most violent gale. It is never known to be driven 

 astray by any storm, however violent. 



The Xotes of Dr. Berlandier, of Matamoras, show that he regarded this as being 

 a rare species on the Mexican coast ; he met with only a single example in the neigli- 

 liiiiliood of Tampico. He states that it inhabits the salt hikes and the shores of the 

 Gull' of Mexico between the Tropics, delighting in lonely shoals and marshy places. 

 It is known to the French as Le line en Ciseau, aiul to the Spaniards as the Pcsmdor. 

 It docs not feed solely upon shellfish and niollusks, but is found on the edge of lakes 

 around Matamoras, where there are very few mollusks, and where it hunts for fishes. 



Dr. Hachman informed Audubon that this bird is very abundant and breeds in 

 great muubers on the sea-islands at Ball's Bay, S. C, where twenty thousand nests 



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