Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America

The book that made American bird-watching possible in the field: keys, plumages, songs and habits for every species of the East, by the man who ran ornithology at the American Museum.

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Gulf of St

Lawrence, writes: "The first report of our guns brought dozens tumbling from their nests. Their manner of descending from the higher portions of the cliff was peculiar. Launching into the air with heads depressed and wings held stiffly at a sharp angle above their backs, they would shoot down like meteors, checking their speed by an upward turn just before reaching the water. In a few minutes scores had collected about us. They were perfectly silent and very tame, passing and repassing over and by us, often coming within ten or fifteen yards. On such occasions their flight has a curious resemblance to that of a Woodcock, but when coming in from the fishing grounds they skim close to the waves, and the wings are moved more in the manner of a Duck" (Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., xxii, 1883, p. 407). 13a. F. a. glacialis (Temm.). LARGE-BILLED PUFFIN.-Similar to the preceding, but larger. W., 6.80-7.40; B., 2.00-2.30 (B., B., and R.).

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