RUFF— TATTLER— FULMARS— PUFFINS. 



161 



their young by disgorging food ; at these times, and on other oc- 

 casions, they are observed to hide themselves by day, and sally 

 out towards twilight in pursuit of their prey. They are, however, 

 by no means nocturnal when at sea, and are seen alike in fair or 

 foul weather, but scarcely follow vessels but in breezes, as their own 

 ordinary resources for obtaining food are equally productive in 

 calm weather. 



The Fork-tailed Petrel is an inhabitant of North Pacific coast. 



Hornby's Petrel is an inhabitant of the Northwest coast. 



The Ashy Petrel is met with on the California coast. 



The Black Petrel is also an inhabitant of the coast of California. 



The Wedge-tailed, or Least Petrel has been found in Lower 

 California. 



Leach's Petrel is common to both coasts. 



Ruff. {Philomackus pugnax.) 

 Fig. 16. 



This bird, originally a native of the northern portion of the 

 Eastern hemisphere, is occasionally met with on the New England 

 coast, and in the Middle States. In the old world it is a widely 

 distributed species, and is particularly noted for its pugnacity. 

 Nauman says, that this species never remains near or ventures 

 into the water, but after joining in the busy scene for a short time, 

 always returns to its usual haunts. Unlike other Sandpipers, these 

 birds are met with far inland, where they not only dwell upon the 

 banks of rivers, but wander into the plains and cultivated districts. 

 Water insects, beetles, and worms, with seeds of many kinds, af- 

 ford them the means of subsistence, and for these they seek prin- 

 cipally at early morning or evening, visiting certain spots with 

 great regularity, and keeping strictly within a limited hunting 

 ground. Whilst thus engaged they move leisurel}', and with con- 

 scious dignity, keeping steadily and quietly at work, and only be- 

 traying their presence by a weak hoarse cry, as they rise with light 

 and hovering wing into the air. 



Solitary Tattler, Wood Tattler, or Sandpiper. ( Totanus soh'/arius.) 



Fig. 17. 



This species is abundantly to be met with during the migration 

 season, spring and fall, in most all wet woods, moist meadows and 

 secluded pools. Its breeding places are usually found in the moun- 

 tainous portions of the United States and northward. Their food 

 consists of aquatic insects of all sorts, thin worms, grubs, and at 

 times the smaller sorts of molluscs, also sand and gravel to assist 

 digestion. The note of this bird, when alarmed, consists of a low 

 whistle, uttered as they fly ofF. 



PLATE CVII. 



Pacific Fulmar. {Fulmar us glacialls, var. pacificus.) 



Fig. 1. 



Rodger's Fulmar. {Fulmarius glacialis, var. rodgeri.) 

 Fig. 2. 



Slender-billed Fulmar. {Fulmarius tenner ostr -is .) 



Fig. 3- 



The habits and characteristics of these birds are similar to those 

 of the Petrels, figures 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, mentioned on Plate 

 CVL, page 160, and of the Fulmar represented on Plate LXXV., 

 fig. 6, page 116. 



The Pacific Fulmar is a North Pacific coast variety of the Ful- 

 mar {Fulmarus glaciate), represented on Plate LXXV., fig. 6, 

 page 116, has a weaker bill and is darker on the mantle. 



Rodger's Fulmar is also a North Pacific coast variety of the 

 Fulmar just mentioned. Its mantle being still darker than the 

 variety Pacific Fulmar. 



The Slender-billed Fulmar is a casual visitor to the Pacific coast. 



Cinereous Puffin, or Sheerwater. {Puffinus kuklii.) 



Fig. 4. 



Dusky Puffin, Sheerwater, or Petrel. (JPuffinus obscurus.) 

 Fig- 5. 



Greater, or Wandering Puffin, or Sheerwater. {Puffinus major.) 



Fig. 6. 



Flesh-footed Puffin, or Sheerwater. {Puffinus creatopus.) 



Fig. 10. 



Black-tailed Puffin, or Sheerwater. {Puffinus melanurus.) 



Fig. 11. 



Sooty Puffin, or Sheerwater. (JPuffinus fullginosus.) 



Fig. 12. 



Manks Puffin, or Sheerwater. {Puffinus anglorum.) 



Fig. 13- 



Black-vented Puffin, or Sheerwater. {Puffinus opisthomclas.) 

 Fig. 14. 



Dark-bodied Puffin, or Sheerwater. {Puffinus amaurosoma.) 



Fig. 15. 



Slender-billed Puffin, or Sheerwater. {Puffinus tcnuirostris.) 

 Fig. 16. 



Puffins, or Sheerwaters are met with in most all parts of the 

 Old as well as the New World, and like the Stormy, or Swallow 

 Petrels, or Fulmars, live almost wholly out at sea. Their chief 

 characteristic, and for which they are distinguished, consists of 

 their power of diving to obtain food, which consists of fishes and 

 molluscous animals. They are also distinguishable from all their 

 allies by the violence of their flight. They visit the land for the 

 purpose of hatching and rearing their young, during which time 

 they are usually met with in such vast numbers as to almost cover 

 the rocks on which they build. At other times they are met with 

 in flocks of from six to twelve. 



The Cinereous Sheerwater is a bird lately introduced to our 

 North American fauna. It is a common species of the North 

 Atlantic. 



The Dusky Sheerwater, a common species of the South Atlan- 

 tic coast, as far as the Middle States. 



The Great, or Wandering Sheerwater, is an abundant species, 

 met with on the whole extent of the Atlantic coast. 



The Flesh-footed Sheerwater has been met with at St. Nicholas 

 Lland, California. 



The Black-tailed Sheerwater is met w : th off the coast of Cali- 

 fornia. 



