BIRDS OF DURHAM AND VICINITY. 
11 
immature birds. They are smaller than common loons, but of simi- 
lar habits. Many of both species are killed for food every year. They 
are said to be quite palatable when properly cooked — though to use a 
trite saying, "tastes differ." ' 
Shooting sea-fowl is an occupation about our waters every fall. At 
Hampton some twenty-five men are thus employed, averaging, I am 
told, about a hundred birds each, on good years. Each man takes a 
boat and a number of decoys, and rows out to a place where the birds 
are likely to fly by. He anchors the decoys, and then places the boat 
a little way to windward where he maintains his position by slow 
rowing. When a bird is seen to be approaching, the gunner lies 
down in his boat which is left to drift slowly towards the decoys. 
If it comes within shooting distance he rises and risks a shot for what 
it may bring. The combined effect of wave, wind, and wing is so 
difficult to estimate that this sort of shooting is full of hazard. 
Family ALCID.E. 
Fratercula arctica. Puffin. 13. 
Puffins are regular winter visitants off our coast. They were re- 
ported common at Isles of Shoals last winter. Judging from the fact 
that most of the local collections lack them, I infer that comparatively 
fev/ are killed. The deep, narrow bill, with its bright colors — red, 
blue, and yellow — is diagnostic. 
Cepphus grylle. Black Guillemot. 27. 
The Black Guillemot, or Sea Pigeon as it is often called, is a winter 
visitant on the coast. Examples are shot occasionally by duck 
hunters at Hampton, though it is not good for food, being too strongly 
flavored with fish to be palatable. Its winter dress contains much 
white, which distinguishes it even at a distance from other spear-billed 
water-fowl. Its red feet are also a prominent characteristic of a fresh 
specimen. It is somewhat smaller than the Thick-billed Guillemot, 
being only thirteen or fourteen inches in length. Its habits are similar 
to the other members of family Alcidoe. Whether flying, or diving 
for food, or floating lazily over the rollers, their stay with us is a 
period of waiting. When spring comes the waiting ends, and they 
hasten back to their northern homes. 
Uria lorn via. Brunnich's Murre. . 
Briinnich's Murre, or Guillemot, is regularly found along the coast 
from November until March, and sometimes comes to Great Bay and 
the Piscataqua. November 26, 1899, one entered Mr. Palmers fish 
