228 

 TOWNSEND'S SURF-BIRD. 



^Aphriza Townsendi, Jlud. 



PLATE CCCXXII.— Female. 



The remarkable bird here represented, which in form and size bears a con- 

 siderable resemblance to the Knot, was procured by Mr. Townsend on the 

 shores of Cape Disappointment, and proved to be a female. Nothing is 

 known as to the habits or range of the species. In order to exhibit its cha- 

 racters to the best advantage, I have figured it flying in two different aspects. 

 The following note accompanied the specimen sent to me by Mr. Townsend: 

 — "I shot this bird, the only one I have ever seen, on Cape Disappointment, 

 at the entrance of the Columbia river. It was sitting on the edge of the 

 steep rocks, and the heavy surf frequently dashed its spray over it as it 

 foraged among the retreating waves. When it started, it flew with a quick, 

 jerking motion of its wings, and alighted again at a short distance. It was a 

 female. The stomach was remarkably strong and muscular, and contained 

 fragments of a small black shell-fish which adheres to the rocks in this neigh- 

 bourhood." 



Townsend's Surf-bird, Aphriza Townsendi, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 249. 



Female, 11; wing, 7^. 



Cape Disappointment, Columbia river. 



Female. 



Bill a little shorter than the head, rather stout, compressed, tapering, 

 straightish, being recurvate in a slight degree. Upper mandible with the 

 dorsal line straight and a little declinate as far as the middle, then concave, 

 and towards the end convex, the nasal groove extending to near the end, the 

 ridge rather broad and flattened, the tip compressed and bluntish. Lower 

 mandible with the angle rather long and narrow, the dorsal line ascending 

 and slightly convex, the sides grooved for half their length, convex toward 

 the end, the tip narrowed but blunt. Nostrils sub-basal, linear near the 

 margin. 



Head rather small, ovate, rounded in front. Neck of ordinary length. 

 Body rather full. Feet of moderate length, rather stout; tibia bare at the 

 lower part, and reticulated; tarsus roundish, with small angular scales all 

 round, those on the fore part larger; toes four, with numerous scutella, the 



