Catalogue of the Birds of Connecticut. 271 



*268. Phalacrocorax dilophus, Nuttall, Double-crested Cormo- 

 rant, Stratford. 



269. P. graculus, Dumont, Shag, Guilford. 



*270. Sula bassana, Lacepede, Gannet, Solan Goose, Stratford. 



271. S. fusca, Brisson, Booby, Guilford. 



Family Laridce. 



*272. Larus argentatus, Brunrick, Herring Gull, common. 

 *273. L. atricilla, Linn., Black-headed Gull, Stonington. 

 *274. L. capistralus, Temminck, Small Black-headed Gull 3 

 Stonington. 



275. L. tridactylus, Latham, Kittiworke Gull, Stonington. 



276. L. zonorhynchus, Richardson, Ring-billed Gull, Stoning- 

 ton. 



277. L. canus, Linn., common Gull, Stonington. 



278. L. fuscus, Linn., Silvery Gull, Stonington. 



*279. L. Bonapartii, Swainson, Bonaparte's Gull, Stratford. 



280. L. marinus, Linn., Black-backed Gull, Stratford. 



281. Sterna Hirundo, Linn., Marsh Tern, Stratford. 



282. S. minuta, Wilson, Silvery Tern, Stratford. 



*283. Rhynchops nigra, Wilson, Black Skimmer, Stonington. 



*268. I have a fine specimen of the double- crested cormorant, killed here March 

 15, 1841, by Mr. David Bennet. It is one of our rarest as well as most extraordi- 

 nary birds; has a fine black crest back of each eye, weight 5 pounds 7 ounces. 



*270. The true solan goose killed here, which I presented to Yale Natural His- 

 tory Society, had in its stomach a bird, and in the stomach of the latter was also a 

 bird — destruction on destruction. Mr. B. Silliman, Jr. and Dr. Whelpley, who 

 opened the stomach, observed this fact, as the former gentleman informed me. It 

 was previously supposed this bird lived wholly on fishes. 



*272. The herring gull is very abundant in this harbor during winter and spring. 



*273, 274. The black-headed gull and the next species are occasionally killed in 

 Stonington, as I am informed by Mr. J. H. Trumbull. The other species of gulls 

 which follow, are said by various authors, to be found from New York to Maine, 

 and though I have not been so happy as to find them, yet as they are birds of pas- 

 sage, they probably pass over, and occasionally stop in Connecticut. 



*279. I obtained an individual of this beautiful species of gull, August 1, 1842, 

 under circumstances which induce the belief it had been remaining several days 

 with us. Its stomach contained the larva of several species of Phryganea, (cadew 

 flies,) and several of those beautiful little fishes, Gasterosteus Novehoracensis, Cuv., 

 (New York stukle back,) all of which are very common in our fresh waters. 



*283. The Rhynchops nigra, or cut-water, I think I have seen in storms of wind, 

 from Massachusetts Bay to Florida, and not far from the southeastern corner of our 

 state. I have always found sailors to be their mortal enemies, believing their pres- 

 ence an indication of bad weather. The adaptation of their bill to their necessi- 

 ties, is a wonderful indication of wisdom in the Contriver. 



