392 



THE TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS — TUBINARES. 



The type specimen of the Fuffinus amaurosoma of Coues was taken off the coast ot Cape San 

 Lucas. The National iluseuni also possesses specimens from the coast of Chili. According to 

 Buller, it is extremely abundant in the neighborhood of Stewart's Island and along the adjacent 

 coast of New Zealand. 



The only accounts I can find touching the nidification of this bird are — the state- 

 ment of j\lr, Buller that its egg is white, with reddish-brown stains, and measures 

 3.25 inches in length and 2.00 in breadth ; and the Notes of Mr. Travers, quoted l)y 

 ;Mr. Dresser, that this Shearwater is common all around the coasts of the Chatham 

 Group, where it burrows in peaty ground a horizontal hole, from three to four feet 

 deep, and turning slightly to the right or left. At the end of this hole it forms a 

 rude nest of twigs and dead leaves. Only one egg is laid, and the male is said to 

 assist in incubation ; and the parent birds are very savage while on the nest, biting 

 and scratching those who molest them. The old birds roost on the shore, and the 

 noise they make during the wdiole night is described as being something absolutely 

 frightful. Taken out of their holes, they fluttered about on the ground for some time 

 in a confused manner before they made for the sea. 



Puffinus tenuirostris. 



THE SLENDER-BILLED SHEARWATER. 



Proccllaria tenuirostris, Tkmm. PI. Col. 1828, 587. — Sciileg. Mns. P.-B. Pioe. 1863, 26. 



PiUlinus tenuirostris, Temm. & Schleg. Fauna Jap. Aves, 1819, 131, pi. 86. — CoUES, Key, 1872, 332 ; 



Check List, 1873, no. 604 ; ed. 2, 1882, no. 839. — Ridgw. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 716. 

 Ncdris tenuirostris, Bonap. Consp. II. 1856, 202. —Coues, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad. 1864, 126. 

 Priocclla tenuirostris, Nels. Cruise Corwin, 1883, 152 (not of authors !). 

 Puffinus curilicm, LiciiT. Nonieucl. Mus. Berol. 1854, 100. 



Hab. North Pacific, including the coast of Northwestern America (Sitka, Kadiak, Unulashka, 

 Kotzebue Sound, etc.). 



Sp. Char. Adult .- Above, uniform fuliginous-dusky ; beneath, light smoky gray, darker on 

 the flanks and crissum, lighter on the chin. Bill dusky brownish ; legs and feet pale-colored, 

 the outer side of the tarsus and outer toe dusky. 



Wing, 10.00-10.10 inches ; culnien, 1.20 ; depth of bill at base, .40; tarsus, 1.90-1.95 ; middle 

 toe, 1.90-1.9.5. 



This species quite closely resembles the P. nativitatis, Streets,^ from Christmas Island, Pacific 



1 PrFFixus (Nectris) nativitatis. Streets, Bull. U. S. Nat. JIus. no. 7, 1877, 29. 



Uniform dusky-fuliginous, slightly paler beneath. Bill deep black ; legs and feet dusky. Wing, 

 9.75 inches; culnien, 1.25 ; depth of bill through base, .45 ; tarsus, 1.75 ; middle toe, 1.70. 



