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382 



THE TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS — TUBINARES. 



Labrador, when off the coast of Nova Scotia, one evening in June, about sunset, 

 he observed a great number flying from tlio rocky shore, and believed they were 

 breeding there. In this belief he was confirmed by the fact that hardly one was 

 to be seen there by day, that being the time when these birds are in the habit of 

 remaining about their nests. In September they are to be seen far from land, both 

 by day and by night ; and in calm weather they alight on the water, and may then 

 be easily approached. They swim buoyantly, and when sporting on the water pre- 

 sent a very graceful appearance. Two that had been caught with hooks walked 

 about as well as Ducks. On being approached they would open their bills, raise 

 their feathers, and eject through their nostrils an oily substance. When held in the 

 hand they would continue to do this, at the same time scratching with tlieir sharp 

 claws and bills. They refused all sorts of food, and being very unpleasant pets, 

 were soon set at liberty ; when, instead of flying away directly, they plunged into 

 the water, dived about, then splashed and washed themselves, before they took to 

 their wings, flying with their usual ease and grace. In the stomachs of those he 

 opened Audubon found portions of fish, crabs, seaweeds, and oily substances. H(? 

 was of the opinion that this bird does not go farther to the north than Newfound- 

 land ; but Dr. Walker in his notes on the birds observed in the voyage of the '' Fox," 

 mentions that as the vessel approached Cape Farewell large numbers of this species 

 were observed ; Professor Ileinhardt speaks of it as being a resident of Greenland ; 

 and I have its eggs taken in Greenland. Mr. Kumlien found this species abinidant 

 from Belle Isle to Resolution Island, but it was not observed by him in Greenland. 

 Faber mentions it as of rare occurrence in Iceland, as only seen on the most southern 

 portions, and as not known to breed there. 



Dr. Henry Bryant (" I'roc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist.," VIII. 72) refers to a species 

 of Puffinus as very numerous in the Straits of Belle Isle ; and as at that time (July) 

 they must have been feeding their young, their breeding-places were probably at no 

 great distance. None of the inhabitants questioned by him had ever found the egg, 

 or knew anything about their breeding-places. It may be that — like P. Knhlii — it 

 breeds earlier than most water birds. It occurs off the coast of Massachusetts early 

 in August, if not before. 



Mr. Godman states that this species is found throughout the Azores, and that it 

 breeds there about the end of IMay, in holes in the cliffs. One bird that he shot con- 

 tained an egg just ready for exclusion ; but the bird he refers to, Mr. Dresser states, 

 has been ascertained to be P. Kuhlii, and the presence of P. major in that region 

 is discredited. But according to Mr. Dresser it has been obtained off the coast of 

 Guinea by Pel, at the Cape of Good Hope by Smith and Dr. Van Horstock, and near 

 Tierra del Fuego by Mr. T. R. Peale. 



ISIr. George C. Taylor, in a voyage from Liverpool to New York, met witli largo 

 flocks of this species on the 22d of May, when nearing the coast of Newfoundlaml. 

 On the following day, passing the longitude of Cape Race about ten miles from shore, 

 there were again large flocks of this Shearwater. As the ship api)roached, the birds 

 would rise, not in mass, but in succession, fly half a mile or so forward, and aliglit 

 until the vessel again came near them. Toward evening they were not so nunni- 

 ous ; but throughout the day he could see flocks or companies from twenty to a liun- 

 dred sitting here and there on the sea. On the return voyage, leaving New Yorl; 

 July 15, Mr. Taylor again fell in with this species on the 21st, two days after i)ass- 

 ing Cape Race. Mr. Boardnian also informs me that he has found it quite common 

 in September off the coast of Maine and Nova Scotiji. 



Its occurrence on the coast of Long Island is spoken of by Giraud as very riirc. 



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