the Rhynchopt Nigra of Linnaeus, the Black Skimmer of Pennant and Latham, and Coot-water of Catesby. Its bill is much compressed; the edges are sharp; the lower mandible is four inches and a half long; the upper only three; the base red; the rest is black; the forehead, chin, front of the neck, the breast, and belly, are white; the head and whole upper part of the body are black; the wings are of the same colour; the lower part of the inner webs of the primaries is white; the tail is short, and a little forked; the middle feathers are dusky; the others are white on their sides; the legs are weak and red; the length is one foot eight inches; the extent is three feet seven inches. It inhabits America from New York to Guiana. It skims nimbly along the water, with its under mandible just beneath the surface, feeding on the insects and small fish as it proceeds. It frequents also oyster-banks; its bill being partly like that of the oystercatcher, adapted for preying on those shell-fish.