228 
BLACK SKIMMER. 
dark. And this happened too when I was at least a hundred miles from 
the mouth of the river. 
Being aware, previously to my several visits to the peninsula of the 
Floridas and other parts of our southern coasts where the Razor-bills are 
abundant, of the observations made on this species by M. Lesson, I paid all 
imaginable attention to them, always aided by an excellent glass, in order 
to find whether or not they fed on bivalve shell-fish found in the shallows of 
sand-bars and other places at low water ; but not in one single instance did I 
see any such occurrence, and in regard to this matter I agree with Wilson 
in asserting that, while with us, these birds do not feed on shell-fish. M. 
Lesson’s words are as follows: — “ Quoique le Bec-en-ciseaux semble de- 
favorise par la forme de son bee, nous acquimes la preuve qu’il savait s’en 
servir avec avantage et avec la plus grande adresse. Les plages sabloneuses 
de Peuce sont en effect remplies de Mactres, coquilles bivalves, que la maree 
descendante laisse presque & sec dans des petites mares ; le Bec-en-ciseaux 
tr&s au fait de cet phemom&ne, se place aupr&s de ces mollusques, attend que 
leur valves s’entrouvrent un peu, et profite aussitot de ce movement en 
enfor§ant la lame inferieure et tranchante de son bee entre les valves qui se 
reserrent. L’oiseau enleve alors la coquille, la frappe sur la gr&ve, coupe 
le ligament du mollusque, et peut ensuite avaler celui-ci sans obstacle. 
Plusieurs fois nous avons dte temoins de cet instinct treis perfectionnd.” 
While watching the movements of the Black Skimmer as it was searching 
for food, sometimes a full hour before it was dark, I have seen it pass its 
lower mandible at an angle of about 45 degrees into the water, whilst its 
moveable upper mandible was elevated a little above the surface. In this 
manner, with wings raised and extended, it ploughed as it were, the element 
in which its quarry lay to the extent of several j^ards at a time, rising and 
falling alternately, and that as frequently as it thought it necessary for secur- 
ing its food when in sight of it ; for I am certain that these birds never 
immerse their lower mandible until they have observed the object of their 
pursuit, for which reason their eyes are constantly directed downwards like 
those of Terns and Gannets. I have at times stood nearly an hour by the 
side of a small pond of salt water having a communication with the sea or 
a bay, while these birds would pass within a very few yards of me, then 
apparently quite regardless of my presence, and proceed fishing in the man- 
ner aboye described. Although silent at the commencement of their pursuit, 
they become noisy as the darkness draws on, and then give out their usual 
call notes, which resemble the syllables hurlc, hurlc, twice or thrice repeated 
at short intervals, as if to induce some of their companions to follow in their 
wake. I have seen a few of these birds glide in this manner in search of 
prey over a long salt-marsh bayou, or inlet, following the whole of its sinu 
