556 WANDERING SHEARWATER.
port itself on the surface, without actually alighting. In the stomach of
those which I opened, I found fishes, portions of crabs, sea-weeds, and
oily substances. It does not appear that this species goes far north, as
was formerly supposed; for none of the late northern voyagers mention
having seen it, although they found the Fulmar abundant.
PUFFINUS CINEREUS, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of the United States, p. 370.
FROCELLARIA CINEREA, Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 10.
CINEREOUS PUFFIN, Nuttall, Manual, p. 334.
Adult Male. Plate CCLXXXIII.
Bill about the same length as the head, rather slender, nearly as deep
as broad at the base, compressed towards the end, slightly curved upwards,
with the tips decurved. Upper mandible with a cere at the base extending
narrow to the nostrils, which are placed above, each covered with a
lateral convex plate, and open anteriorly, with an elliptical aperture;
the dorsal line as far as the nostrils nearly straight, then suddenly deflected,
after which it is slightly concave^ but towards the tip incurved,
the ridge very broad and convex at the base, narrower beyond the nostrils,
from which a groove proceeds obliquely to the commencement of
the hooked tip; the sides convex and nearly erect, the edges sharp.
Lower mandible with the angle very long and narrow, the dorsal line
beyond ii, decurved, the sides sloping outwards, the edges sharp and inflected,
the curved tip grooved above.
Head rather large, oblong, rather compressed. Neck short and stout.
Body moderate, deeper than broad. Wings long. Feet rather large;
tibia bare for a short space below; tarsus of moderate length, compressed,
covered all round with angular scales, the hind ones much smaller; hind
toe obsolete, but with a small conical deflected claw; fore toes long, slender,
connected by reticulated webs, the lateral ones with thin edges; outer
toe slightly longer than the third, but with a shorter claw, the first considerably
shorter ; toes scutellate above; claws arched, compressed, acute,
that of third toe with an enlarged sharp edge.
Plumage soft, close, blended; on the back compact, the feathers
rounded. Wings very long, pointed ; primary quills tapering, the first
longest, the second considerably shorter, the rest rapidly graduated; secondaries
short, broad, obliquely rounded, the inner not elongated. Tail
of moderate length, graduated, of twelve rounded feathers.
WANDERING SHEARWATER. 557
Bill yellowish-green, the tips brownish-black, tinged with green.
Edges of eyelids dark-grey ; iris brown. Feet light greenish-grey, webs
and claws yellowish flesh-colour. The upper parts in general are deep
brown, the hind neck paler and tinged with grey ; the primary quills and
tail brownish-black. The lower parts are greyish-white ; the lower wingcoverts
white, those next the edge of the wing greyish-black towards the
end, the axillary feathers white, greyish-brown towards the end, lower tailcoverts
similar.
Length to end of tail 20 inches, to end of wings 21 £ ; to end of claws
21 £ ; extent of wings 45; wing from flexure 13£ ; tail 5; bill along the
back 2T
4
g , along the edge of lower mandible 2f; tarsus 2*; middle toe 2 | ,
its claw \. Weight 1 lb. 9f oz.