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THE DUSKY PETREL.
PUFFIN us OBSCURUS, CUV.
PLATE CCXCIX. MALE.
ON the 26th of June 1826, while becalmed on the Gulf of Mexico,
off the western shores of Florida, I observed that the birds of this species,
of which some had been seen daily since we left the mouth of the Mississippi,
had become very numerous. The mate of the vessel killed four at
one shot, and, at my request, brought them on board. From one of them
I drew the figure which has been engraved. The notes made at the time
are now before me, and afford me the means of presenting you with a short
account of the habits of this bird.
They skim very low over the sea in search of the floating bunches of
marine plants, usually called the Gulf Weed, so abundant here as sometimes
to occupy a space of half an acre or more. In proceeding, they
flap their wings six or seven times in succession, and then sail for three or
four seconds with great ease, having their tail much spread, and their
long wings extended at right angles with the body. On approaching a
mass of weeds, they raise their wings obliquely, drop their legs and feet,
run as it were on the water, and at length alight on the sea, where they
swim with as much ease as ducks, and dive freely, at times passing several
feet under the surface in pursuit of the fishes, which, on perceiving
their enemy, swim off, but are frequently seized with great agility. Four
or five, sometimes fifteen or twenty of these birds, will thus alight, and,
during their stay about the weeds, dive, flutter, and swim, with all the
gaiety of a flock of ducks newly alighted on a pond. Many gulls of different
kinds hover over the spot, vociferating their anger and disappointment
at not being so well qualified for supplying themselves with the same
delicate fare. No sooner have all the fishes disappeared than the Petrels
rise, disperse, and extend their flight in search of more, returning perhaps
in a while to the same spot. I heard no sound or note from any of them,
although many came within twenty yards of the ship and alighted there.
Whenever an individual settled in a spot, many others flew up directly
and joined it. At times, as if by way of resting themselves, they alighted,
DUSKY PETREL. 621
swam lightly, and dipped their bills frequently in the water, in the manner
of Mergansers.
I preserved the skins of the four specimens procured. One of them
1 sent to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, by Captain
JOHN 11. BUTLER, of the ship Thalia, then bound from Havannah to
Minorca. Two others were presented to my excellent friend Dr TRAILL,
on my first becoming acquainted with him at Liverpool.
I found the wings of this species strong and muscular for its size, this
structure being essentially requisite for birds that traverse such large expanses
of water, and are liable to be overtaken by heavy squalls. The
stomach resembles a leather purse, four inches in length, and was much
distended with fishes of various kinds, partially digested or entire. The
tesophagus is capable of being greatly expanded. Some of the fishes were
two and a half inches in length, and one in depth. The flesh of this Petrel
was fat, but tough, with a strong smell, and unfit for food; for, on
tasting it, as is my practice, I found it to resemble that of the porpoises.
No difference is perceptible in the sexes.
While on board the United States"' Revenue Cutter the Marion, and
in the waters of the Gulf Stream opposite Cape Florida, I saw a flock of
these birds, which, on our sailing among them, would scarcely swim off
from our bows, they being apparently gorged with food. As we were
running at the rate of about ten knots, we procured none of them. I
have also seen this species off Sandy Hook.
PROCELLARIA OBSCURA, Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 828.
PUFFINUS OBSCURUS, Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. of Birds of the United States, p. 371 -
DUSKY PETREL, Lath. Synops. vol. iv. p. 416.— Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 337.
Adult Male. Plate CCXCIX.
Bill about the length of the head, straight, somewhat cylindrical, the
lips curved. Nostrils tubular, separate, inclosed in a horny sheath, and
dorsal, the outline straight, curved on the unguis, the sides nearly erect,
convex, the edges sharp, hard, and inflected, the tip decurved, strong.
Lower mandible straight, the angle very narrow and extending nearly to
the tip, the dorsal line beyond it decurved, the sides convex and inclining
inwards, the edges sharp and inflected.
Head of moderate size. Neck of ordinary length ; body ovate. Feet
stout; tibia bare a short way above the joint; tarsus of moderate length,