172 THE CONDOR Vol. XXIV 
birds, which ordinarily breed so much farther north, is a little surprising. Every even- 
ing while we were on the island a flock numbering about eighty individuals came to 
Bird Island, appearing from the north at about 7 o’clock. The birds flew over and 
about the island for some quarter of an hour, flying at a great rate of speed, finally 
disappearing to the south, following the Laguna Madre. No Black Terns were seen at 
any other time, nor in any other place, nor is there any evidence of their breeding in 
the vicinity. 
12. Rynchops nigra. Black Skimmer. An abundant breeding species. The 
nesting season was just beginning as we left, many nests containing two eggs on June 
2; no nests were found containing more than two eggs. The nests were pretty well 
scattered about the edge of the island, though the greatest number were near the north- 
east end. About 400 birds were living on Bird Island, and about 50 on Little Bird, these 
Fig. 40. A BROWN PELICAN AT HER NEST. 
latter having two eggs in the nest on May 29. The birds were extremely active all 
day, and their hoarse, grating cries were heard well into the night after other bird 
sounds had practically ceased. Also, their voices were the first to be heard in the 
morning. After watching these birds carefully for eight days, the writer has no evi- 
dence to offer to show that they feed in the orthodox manner in which they have always 
been supposed to feed. On the contrary, he feels at the present time that Mr. Arthur 
(9) is correct when he says that the birds pick up their food while standing in the 
water. This I saw through powerful binoculars again and again when the birds stood in 
the shallows, and, though I watched hundreds of the birds “skimming”, I never saw the 
slightest indication that they were catching fish while on the wing. 
13. Anhinga anhinga. Water Turkey. Three “snake birds’ were seen while 
we were on the way to the island on May 26. These were in every case sitting on old 
