!l 



202 



LUNG-WIN(}ED SWIMMEU:^- LONCJIPENNES. 



whitish Outer primary with tiie entii-e outor wel), niul n utripe aloii^; tiic iiiiu'r next the Nlmft, 

 with the I'liil, lihick, the reiiiainiii}: portimi wiiite ; wcoiitl and thinl (|iiills Hiiiiihir, hut the wiiiii' 

 successively more restricted ; fourth, bhiish white on both wehs (inner web more Muisii), ilir 

 8ubtt i luinal iiortion Uack for more than an iiicii, the tip with a small white spot ; remainiu},' ((uill> 

 similar, hut deeper bluish nr.iy. Hill dusky; feet pale brownish (in skin). Yoiiiuj, ucomf j/itir : 

 Similar to the atlult in winter jtlumajje, but central lesser winjj-coverts dusky, tail cr>s.MMl by u 

 subterminal baud of dusky brown, and primaries marked as in the tirst plumajje. 



Total lenj^tii, about U.()(» inches; extent, Ui.oo ; winj;, lO.-2."> ; culmen, 1.-20 ; depth of bill 

 through nostrils, .25 ; tarsus, 1.40 ; middle toe with claw, 1. 10. 



!i,«? 





ill 



This is a widely ilistrilnitwl species, found tlirotigl out North Ainerica at dilTt'itMit 

 seasons, heing eoninion both to tlu^ Atlantie and the raeitic eoasts, and breediiifjf finni 

 alK)ut latitude 4u^ or 50'' north nearly or (juite to the Arctic Ocean. It winters in tlu' 

 southern j)ortions of the I'nited States, on both shores, and also, to a certain extent 

 — not well ascertained — in Mexico and in Central America. It is found in tiu' 

 interior as well as t>n the sea-coast, but chiefly in its inigr .tions. It is abundant in 

 tho waters of the St. Croix and on I'assamaiiuodtly Hay, aiul is (inite common in the 

 summer. Hiehardson states in rcj,'ard to it, that he fonm' it in large nundiers in idl 

 parts of tho Tur Countries, where it associati-s with the Terns, and is distinguished 

 by its i)eculiar shrill and plaintive cry. Cajitain lUaUiston mentions tliat he met 

 with this species at the mouth «)f Hayes lUver, on tho west coast of lltidson's Hay; 

 and Mr. Mtirray receivcil specimens from the same locality. This (.lull was uho 

 f«mud o!i the Mackenzie Hiver by Mr. Heriuird Uoss. 



ISfr. J. A. Allen obtaiiu'd three specimens in CJrcat Salt Lake Valley; these wi'ic 

 all in the adult pbuuage, and dilTcred from the eastern s])ecimens of this UuU in 

 having thicker, much shorter, ami less dccurved bills. 



Hirds of this species occur as occasional .stragglers in various jiarts of New Kiig 

 land; and they are quite common in spring and fall in the neighborhood of Calais, 

 on the St. Croix itivcr, and in I'assanuKpuHldy Hay. They are less abandant in the 

 summer; but many remain, and are supposed to breed somewhere in that ncighboi- 

 hood in trees. In my visits to Kastjwrt, the Hay of Kundy, and its ishmds, 1 havr 

 noticctl them in large mimlK'rs in the mt)nths of .lune and.Iuly. I could obtain, 

 however, lu) evidence in any (piarter of their nesting in that vicinity. If they do 

 itreed there, it has entirely escaped tho notice of those who live in that region. The 

 (lulls were all in flocks, and im)stly in mature jtlnmage; but all appeareil to be 

 unmiited. T foiuid them on the water at all hours of tl • day and night, and as they 

 were very rarely ii»)lested, exceedingly tame ;uid unsusp is. 



Dr. Cooper speaks of flnding birds of this species common at I'uget Sound at all 

 seasons of the year; and the .same statenu'iit is made i)y Dr. Suckley. They ;)p(;ir 

 aUuit San Francisco oidy from Septi-mber to ^May ; and ilo not seem to migrate as 

 far simth as San Diego, although i »r. Cooper met with some at San I'edro, late in 

 May, in their immature jtlumage. They wt .' almost constantly on the wing, diving 

 actively for lish, and were rather shy. Their notes consisted of sharp, but rather 

 faint, s(|ueaks. Th"y are considered good cati> '. 



This <inll occurs in small numlH>rs in spring and fall in Southern ^Visconsin, on 

 L;ike Koskonong, where examples are each season procured by Professor Kumlien, 

 who writes me that this is the most common (Jull of Soutlii-rn \Vis<'onsin — arrivint,' 

 ther« in Ajnil, when the young grass begins to start, j»assing northward in large 

 scattered flocks, flying leisurely ;ind low, as if they intended earefidly to exinnine 

 the cotintry they pas^ ovee. These are all old ones in their best spring phnnag''. 

 Th« int. utture young Inrds come in May,- and are m)t uiicomnum in the lake in tfuui'; 



