STREPSILID.E — THE HVRV BIRD — APHRIZA. 



127 



Hab. Pacific coast of America, from Alaska to Chili ; Sandwich Islands. 



Sp. Char. Bill about as long as the head, rather thick at the base, and shallowest about one 

 third of the distance IVoin the end ; nostrils large, situated in a very distinct longitudinal groove, 

 wiiich occupies the niid.Ue two thirds of the bill ; wings long ; tail rather loi 

 stout. Adult in summvr : IIea( 

 whitish ; the latter iiredoniinatiiig on heail, neck, and breast, where the darker markings are in the 

 form of irregular streaks, but on the breast becoming irregular, broad, crescentic bars ; scapulars 

 with large, irregular spots of rufous. Upper tail-coverts, basal half of tail, a broad Ijand across 



emarginate ; legs 

 neck, and dorsal region spotted and streaked with dusky and 



ends ef greater wing-coverts, edges of outer webs of secondaries, tips of primary-coverts (broadly) 

 bases, shafts, and tips (narrowly) of primaries, tip of tail, and lower parts from the breast, back 

 (including most of under-side of wing), pure white ; sides and crissum with angular spots of dusky. 

 " Bill dusky toward the end, orange at the base ; feet bluish green, claws black " (Audubon). 

 Winter jilumage : Head, neck, and breast, and most of upper parts, plain dusky or lirownisli slate ; 

 white areas as in the summer plumage. '-Iris black; eyelids black ; legs olive-green ; claws 

 black" (Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1881, 15). Young: Much like the winter plumage, but with indistinct 

 white borders to feathere of the upper parts, and the breast, throat, etc., white, with dusky streaks, 

 instead of plain dusky. Difl'ering irom the summer plumage in the absence of rufous on upper 

 parts, and in the white margins to wing-coverts. 



Wing, about 7.00 ; culmen, .93-1.00 ; tarsus, 1.20; middle toe, .90. 



Very little is known in regard to the habits or tlie distribution of this species. It 

 is found on the Sandwich Islands and others of the Pacific Ocean, but is rare on our 

 western coast. A single specimen — a female — w'as obtained at Cape Disappoint- 

 ment, near the mouth of the Columbia, by Mr. Townseud. He states, in regard to 

 it, that it was sitting on the edge of the steep rocks, the heavy surf frequently dash- 

 ing its spray over it as it foraged among the retreating waves. It flew with a quick 

 jerking motion of its wings, and alighted again at a short distance. The stomach 

 was strong and muscular, and contained fragments of a small black shell-fish which 

 is found adhering to the rocks in that neighborhood. 



Dr. Cooper regards this species as a rather rare visitor to our Pacific coast, thongli 

 he has seen birds which he supposed to be of this species at the mouth of the Columbia 

 and on Santa Barbara Island ; but they were so wild, he could not get a shot at them. 

 Dr. Heermaini obtained a specimen of this bird in the San Francisco market in the 

 winter of 18-19, ami thinks that he met with others of this species the following 

 June on the Farallou Islands, where they were gathered in small flocks, engaged in 

 picking up marine insects from the rock-bound shores, which were covered with kelp 

 and shell-fish. They did not ai)]iear wild. Dr. Cooper did not notice any of them on 

 the Farallon Islands in June. 1<S64, but did see some of the Strepsilas melanocephalus, 

 which resembles this sjiecies, ami may hav'e been mistaken for it by Dr. Heermann. 



