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PETRELS-TERA-AU K-GEESE-EIDERS-JAEGER-GUILLEMOTS.


The Sooty Sheerwater is a common species of the North Atlan-
tic, thence south to the Carolinas.
Manks Sheerwater is a common and distinctly marked species
of the North Atlantic coast.
The Black-vented Sheerwater is a Cape St. Lucas species.
The Dark-bodied Sheerwater is also a Cape St. Lucas species.
The Slender-billed Sheerwater is a species of the North Pacific
coast.
Pintato Petrel, or Cape Pigeon. (Daption capensis.)
Fig. 7.
This species is accidental to the coast of California. Gould says,
this Martin among the Petrels swims lightly; but it rarely exer-
cises natatorial power, except to procure food, in pursuit of which
it occasionally dives for a moment or two. Nothing can be more
graceful than its motions when on the wing, with the neck short-
ened and the legs entirely hidden among the feathers of the under
tail covers. Like the other Petrels it ejects, when irritated, an
oily fluid from the mouth. Its feeble note of 'cac, cac, cac, cac,' is
frequently uttered; the third, according to Captain Hutton, being
pronounced the quickest.
Wilson's Petrel. (Oceanites oceanica.)
Fig. 8.
Wilson's Petrel is a common Atlantic Coast species. Its habits
are similar to the Petrels represented on Plate CVI.
Aleutian Tern. (Sterna aleutia.)
Fig. 9.
This is a rare species; at present only four are known. They
were taken off the Aleutian Islands.
Black-capped Petrel. (iEstrelata hasitata.)
Fig. t7.
This bird has habits similar to the Petrels represented on Plate
CVI. It is only occasionally met with on the Atlantic Coast.
Knob-billed, or Least Auk. (Stmorhynchus pusillus.)
Fig. 18.
This well-marked little Auk is considered the smallest of our in-
teresting sea birds. It is easily recognized by the black plumage
otl its upper parts and the pure white on the under parts, and by
having white scapulars. It is met with on the Northwestern coast
of North America.
PLATE CVIII.
Painted Goose; Emperor Goose. (Philacte canagica.)
Fig. x.
A species that is quite common at the mouth of the Tukon, on
the Northwest coast of the United States.
Blue Goose. (Anser carulescens.)
Fig. 2.
This species for a long time has been supposed to be the young
of the common Snow Goose (Anser hypterboreus). Whilst they


do resemble it while young, it is now known to be a distinct species.
When in full plumage it very much resembles the Painted Goose
-figure I of this Plate. The Blue Goose is considered to be an
inhabitant of North America, with an apparently general distribu-
tion along our coast and rivers.
Spectacled Eider. (Somateriaftscheri.)
Fig. 3.
This well-marked Eider or Duck is a resident along the North-
west coast, and is claimed to be a common bird about St. Michaels.
Although the name of these Ducks is supposed to be derived from
the river Eider, they are in reality seldom found south of the 63d
degree of north latitude. They are strictly-sea birds; their walk
upon dry land is made with extreme difficulty; often as they wad-
dle along they stumble and fall down flat on the ground.
Parasitic, or Richardson's Jmger. (Stercorarius parasiticus.)
Fig. 4.
The coasts and rocky reefs of the Arctic regions of both hemi-
spheres is the habitat of this bird, from which it often extends its
migrations, for weeks at a time, far out of sight of land. During
its flight, it frequently skims along like a Falcon, at one time giv-
ing a few rapid strokes with its wings, then sweeping onward to a
considerable distance, somewhat after the manner of a kite; sud-
denly, however, it seems to shiver, or rapidly shake its wings, and
precipitates itself downward, describing a sort of arch, mounts up
again, and immediately adopts a course made up of an alternation
of larger and smaller arches joined beneath each other. Its cry re-
sembles that of a Peacock.
King Eider, or Duck. (Somateria spactabilis.)
Fig. 5.
The King Eider, another of these valuable sea-birds, is met
along the coast of northern North America, south to the State of
New Jersey, and as far in the interior as Lake Erie. According
to Sir J. C. Ross, vast numbers of this beautiful duck resort
annually to the shores and islands of the arctic region, in the
breeding season, and have, on many occasions, afforded a val-
uable and salutary supply of fresh provision to the crews of the
vessels employed on those seas. They do not retire far to the
south in the winter, but assemble in large flocks, the males by
themselves, and the females with their young brood, are often met
with in the Atlantic Ocean, far distant from any land, where the
numerous crustaceans and other marine animals afford them
abundance of food.
Thick-billed, or Brunnich's Guillemot. (Lomvia arra.)
Fig. 6.
Sooty Guillemot. (Uria carbo.)
Fig. 7.
Pigeon Guillemot. (Uria columba.)
Fig. 8
Kittlitz's Guillemot, or Murrelet. (Brachyramphus kittlitzii.)
Fig. 9
Temminok's Guillemot. .(Synthliboramphus wurmizusnm.)


Fig. to.






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