54 REPOET OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 
FAMILY RYNCIIOPIILE.—THE SKIMMERS. 
Bi.ack Skimmer —(Rynchops nigra). 
A short-tailed, long-winged, short-legged, black-backed, white-bellied seabird, 
with a peculiar, long, knife-like bill. These birds skim over the surface of the 
water with the lower mandible so buried beneath the waves as to “plow the 
main” for their food, which consists of small sea animals. 
Ouly one species occurs on New Jersey coast. 
Breeds on Atlantic coast of America. It was at one time a common summer 
resident on the New Jersey coast. Now quite rare. 
FAMILY PROCELLARIIDJE.—TILE PETRELS AND 
SHEARWATERS. 
Six species are found on New Jersey coast. They are all pelagic 
and only come to the shore when driven in by storms. 
F ijlmar — ( Fulmarus.glacialis ). 
Light phase—a large, white bird, with slaty-gray mantle and nearly black 
wing quills; the tail the color of the back. Dark phase—a nearly uniform, 
dark, slaty-gray bird. This bird is a constant attendant upon fishermen on 
their trips to the fishing banks, living upon the offal which is thrown over¬ 
board and which they secure while swimming. 
Found on North Atlantic ocean. Very rare straggler. 
Greater Shearwater; Hagdon — ( Puffinus major). 
A sooty-black or almost black-backed shearwater, with the under parts 
almost white; shading from white on the breast to ashy-gray on the under 
tail coverts; bill blackish. 
Found on Atlantic ocean. A few found along New Jersey coast. 
Sooty Shearwater; Black Hagdon — ( Puff mis strichlandi). 
A sooty-black shearwater, with the under parts somewhat grayer and the 
bill blackish. 
Found in North America, from Newfoundland to South Carolina, along the 
coast. Found on the fishing grounds off the New Jersey coast. 
Stormy Petrel —(Procellaria pelagica). 
A very small, square-tailed, sooty-black petrel, with white upper tail coverts, 
having the longer feathers black tipped. The under tail coverts are mixed 
with whitish and the hill and feet are black. 
