BLACK SKIMMER. 69 



dark. And this happened too when I was at least a hundred miles from the 

 mouth of the river. 



Being aware, previously to my several visits to the peninsula of the 

 Floridas and other parts of our southern coasts where the Razor-bills are 

 abundant, of the observations made on this species by M. Lesson, I paid all 

 imaginable attention to them, always aided with an excellent glass, in order 

 to find whether or not they fed on bivalve shell-fish found in the shallows of 

 sand-bars and other places at low water; but not in one single instance did I 

 see any such occurrence, and in regard to this matter I agree with Wilson 

 in asserting that, while with us, these birds do not feed on shell-fish. M. 

 Lesson's words are as follows: — "Quoique le Bec-en-ciseaux semble de- 

 favorise par la forme de son bee, nous acquimes la preuve qu'il savait s'en 

 servir avec avantage et avec la plus grande adresse. Les plages sabloneuses 

 de Peuce sont en effect remplies de Mactres, coquilles bivalves, que la maree 

 descendente laisse presque a sec dans des petites mares; le Bec-en-ciseaux 

 tres au fait de cet phenomene, se place aupres de ces mollusques, attend que 

 leur valves s'entrouvrent un peu, et profite aussitot de ce movement en 

 enforc.ant la lame inferieure et tranchante de son bee entre les valves qui se 

 reserrent. L'oiseaux enleve alors la coquille, la frappe sur la greve, coupe 

 le ligament du mollusque, et peut ensuite avaler celui-ci sans obstacle. 

 Plusieurs fois nous avons ete temoins de cet instinct tres perfectionne." 



While watching the movements of the Black Skimmer as it was searching 

 for food, sometimes a full hour before it was dark, I have seen it pass its 

 lower mandible at an angle of about 45 degrees into the water, whilst its 

 moveable upper mandible was elevated a little above the surface. In this 

 manner, with wings raised and extended, it ploughed as it were, the element 

 in which its quarry lay to the extent of several yards at a time, rising and 

 falling alternately, and that as frequently as it thought it necessary for secur- 

 ing its food when in sight of it; for I am certain that these birds never 

 immerse their lower mandible until they have observed the object of their 

 pursuit, for which reason their eyes are constantly directed downwards like 

 those of Terns and Gannets. I have at times stood nearly an hour by the 

 side of a small pond of salt water having a communication with the sea or a 

 bay, while these birds would pass within a very few yards of me, then 

 apparently quite regardless of my presence, and proceed fishing in the man- 

 ner above described. Although silent at the commencement of their pursuit, 

 they become noisy as the darkness draws on, and then give out their usual 

 call notes, which resemble the syllables hurk, hurk, twice or thrice repeated 

 at short intervals, as if to induce some of their companions to follow in their 

 wake. I have seen a few of these birds glide in this manner in search of 

 prey over a long salt-marsh bayou, or inlet, following the whole of its sinu- 



