1016 Recent Literature. [October 
A couple of young kittiwake gulls (Rissa tridactyla), taken 
alive by Professor Hyatt, were the occasion of a veryi 
discovery. “We could not induce them to drink,” writes Mr 
Brewster, “ and in spite of every attention that could be thought 
of they pined rapidly. On the second day one of them diet 
The survivor was failing fast when some one placed himina — 
basin filled with salt water, hoping that a bath might prove ben 
ficial. To our great surprise he instantly began to drink, swab- 
lowing draught after draught with evident satisfaction. After 
that there was no further trouble. He had a dish of sea water 
constantly within reach, and it was frequently resorted to; bit 
we could never tempt him to take fresh water, although the 
experiment was tried repeatedly. * * * In view of such a 
development it is highly probable that the same practice obtains 
with other oceanic birds. Sik | 
“To return to our pet. He grew apace, and at the end of the 
fourth week was able to fly; but although he was occasionally 
thrown overboard for a swim, he showed no disposition to leave 
us. is manners from the first were singularly affectionate at 
confiding, and he never objected to being handled, but, on thè 
contrary, received all caresses with a gentle playfulness that ; 
quickly won the heart of everyone. After the return of the a 
thusa he was allowed full liberty at Annisquam, but althyagh e 
made daily flights down the harbor, he invariably returned m : 
vessel at sunset and spent the night in the pail in which ot 
been reared. I saw him last about the 25th of August a 
I reached the shore he was sitting on the water sev a a 
yards away, but in response to a familiar call he rose at ei 
directly to me, alighting near at hand and allowing. got al 
him up with every appearance of satisfaction. In his k beh 
plumage he was a beautiful bird, and his gentle ways werg 
pressibly winning.” (Oceanis 
Concerning the breeding of the Wilson's petra ae 
oceanicus) Mr. Brewster suggests a novel theory a” a bet 
by evidence that must be regarded as conclusive. The 
one of such importance that it demands reproduct a 
author’s words. Mr. Brewster says: the bree 
“But a still greater mystery is that which envelope set 
ing of Wilson’s petrel. I am not aware that any 0” i spends 
identified its egg or even certainly found it nesting it rence 
the entire summer along our coast from the Gulf o a is ved 
to Cape Henry, Virginia, and over much of this its breet 
more numerous than Leach’s petrel. Why then eer por 
A 
5 
4 
4 
i 
i , | , ach's 
ing grounds remained undiscovered while those bag 7 
are so well known? Before attempting to answer, 
“A number of Wilson’s petrels, shot at am fly č 
places between the dates June 17 and July 25, wem o 
