BLACK SKIMMER. 
237 
air, but also that of the water, to overcome, a still greater volume 
of wing is given, the Shearwater measuring nineteen inches 
in length, and upwards of forty-four in extent. In short, who- 
ever has attentively examined this curious apparatus, and ob- 
served the possessor with his ample wings, long bending neck, 
and lower mandible occasionally dipt into, and ploughing, the 
surface, and the facility with which he procures his food, can- 
not but consider it a mere playful amusement, when compared 
with the dashing immersions of the Tern, the Gull, or the 
Fish-Hawk, who, to the superficial observer, appear so superi- 
orly accommodated. 
The Shearwater is most frequently seen skimming close along 
shore, about the first of the flood, at which time the young fry, 
shrimp, &c., are most abundant in such places. There are also 
numerous inlets, among the low islands between the sea beach 
and main land of Cape May, where I have observed tbe Shear- 
waters, eight or ten in company, passing and repassing at high- 
water particular estuaries of those creeks that run up into the 
salt marshes, dipping, with extended neck, their open bills in- 
to the water, with as much apparent ease as Swallows glean up 
flies from the surface. On examining the stomachs of several 
of these, shot at the time, they contained numbers of a small 
fish, usually called silver-sides^ from a broad line of a glossy 
silver colour that runs from the gills to the tail. The mouths 
of these inlets abound with this fry, or fish, probably feeding 
on the various matters washed down from the marshes. 
The voice of the Shearwater is harsh and screaming, resem- 
bling that of the Tern, but stronger. It flies with a slowly flap- 
ping flight, dipping occasionally, with steady expanded wings, 
and bended neck, its lower mandible into the sea, and with 
open mouth receiving its food as it ploughs along the surface. 
It is rarely seen swimming on the water; but frequently rests 
in large parties on the sand-bars at low water. One of these 
birds which I wounded in the wing, and kept in the room be- 
side me for several days, soon became tame and even familiar. 
It generally stood with its legs erect, its body horizontal, and 
