Part 8

This is a species which inhabits the South Pacific and Indian oceans and is said to occur rarely on the California coast. An egg in the collection of Col. John E. Thayer, Lancaster, Mass., was taken on Gough Island Sept. 1st, 1888. The nest was a mound of mud and grass about two feet high. The single white egg measured 3.75 × 2.25.

SOOTY ALBATROSS. 84. Phœbetria palpebrata. 36 inches.

This species is entirely sooty brown except the white rim around the eyelids. One white egg is laid (4.10 × 2.75).

FULMARS AND SHEARWATERS. Family Procellariidæ.

PACIFIC FULMAR. 86b. Fulmarus glacialis glupischa. 18 inches.

In markings these birds closely resemble the Gulls. Bill is shorter and stouter, strongly hooked at the tip, and with the nostrils opening out of a single tube, prominently located on top of the bill. Their flight is graceful like that of the Gulls.

Nest.—On the islands and cliffs of the mainland of the Northern Pacific they nest in large colonies. Every crevice in the rocks having its tenant. They lay but a single white egg on the bare rocks (2.90 × 2.00).

Range.—Northern Pacific, southerly to Lower California.

SLENDER-BILLED FULMAR. 87. Priocella glacialoides. 18 inches.

This species has a paler mantle than others of the family, and the primaries are black.

Range.—Southern seas, appearing on the Pacific coast of the United States in the summer. They probably breed in the far south during our winter, although we have no definite record relative to their nesting habits.

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER. 91. Puffinus creatopus. 19 inches.

Very little is known of the breeding habits of this bird. Upper parts and under-tail coverts are a pale brownish color, darkest on the wings; top of head dark, with throat and breast white, with yellowish bill and pink colored feet.

Range.—From Monterey, California, to South America.

BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER. 93. Puffinus opisthomelas. 14 inches.

Similar to the previous, only smaller and somewhat lighter in color. Quite common in southern California and much more so in Lower California.

Range.—From northern United States to Lower California. A single white egg is laid (2.00 × 1.30).

TOWNSEND SHEARWATER. 93.1. Puffinus auricularis. 14 inches.

A more southern species; occurs occasionally on the lower California coast and islands.

DARK-BODIED SHEARWATER. 95. Puffinus griseus. 17 inches.

This is a southern species which, after nesting on the islands in the far south during our winter months, comes north and appears off the Pacific coast of the United States during our summer months, as far north as Alaska. They are a dark sooty gray, except for the under-coverts, which are whitish.

Nest.—Habits are the same as the others of the family. The single white egg is laid at the end of the burrows or in crevices under rocks (2.40 × 1.65).

SLENDER-BILLED SHEARWATER. 96. Puffinus tenuirostris. 14 inches.

This is much smaller than the preceding, otherwise resembling it in color and markings, being a little lighter under the throat, and the bill more slender in proportion to the size of the bird. Bill and feet nearly black, as is also the one above.

Nest.—Nesting habits and range of the bird are the same as the Dark-bodied Shearwater; it is not found on the N. A. coast as commonly as the other.

FISHER PETREL. 100. Æstrelata fisheri. 7 inches.

This is a handsome bird known only from the type specimen taken off Kadiak Island, Alaska, by Mr. Fisher.

LEAST PETREL. 103. Halocyptena microsoma. 5½ inches.