368 



THE TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS — TUBIXAKES. 



F. " Rodgersi," Cass., having the wing almost entirely white, as are also the rump and upper tail- 

 coverts. There is, however, absolutely no constancy in regard to the continuity of the gray, the 

 shade of which varies i'roin a pale smoky cinereous to a deep, almost slate-, gray. In order to test 

 the question of local versus individual variation in size and proportions, careful measurements 

 have been made of the twenty-four specimens examined, and the following summary is presented 

 as the result : — 



Seven specimens from iJie North Atlantic (=glacialis et "minor "). 



Wing. Culmcn. Depth of bill through base. Tarsus. Middle toe. 



1:5.75 1.58 .80 2.15 2.60 



11.80 1.30 .60 1.G5 2.05 



12.69 1.45 .71 1.88 2.30 



^laxinunn, 

 iliiiiiinuu, 

 Average, 



Maximum, 

 Minimum, 

 Average, 



Maximum, 

 Minimum, 

 Average, 



Seven specimens from the North Pacific, labelled " F. Rodgersi.' 

 Wing. Culmen. Depth of bill at base. Tarsus. 



12.90 1.60 .75 2.05 



12.10 1.40 .65 1.75 



12.46 1.49 .72 1.90 



Seven specimens from the North Pacific, labelled "F. pacificus. 

 Wing. Culmen. Depth of bill at base. Tarsus. 



12.35 1.65 .70 2.00 



11.90 1.35 .65 1.75 



12.06 1.48 .68 1.88 



Middle toe. 

 2.50 

 2.20 

 2.32 



Middle toe. 

 2.35 

 2.10 

 2.25 



The greatest variation in size is seen among specimens from the North Atlantic, three of which 

 are so much smaller than all the others, especially in regard to the bill, as almost to suggest specific 

 distinctness. These doubtless represent the P. minor, Kj^rb.^ 



These three specimens, compared with seven others from various localities in the North Atlantic 



measure as follows : — 



F. (jJacialis minor. 



* L. Kumlien. 



t [U. S. Pish Commission.] 



The colors of the small specimens mentioned above are in no way peculiar, except that the bill 

 is darker, or almost blackish. 



With a few rare and occasional exceptions, the typical Fulmar, or Fulmar Petrel, 

 as it is more generally called, is a northern and Arctic species, conhued to the 

 Northern Atlantic and to the Arctic oceans, to the northern portions of America, 



1 See Coues, Vy. Pliilad. Acad. 1866, p. 28. 



