36 FULMARS AND SHEARWATERS 



until started on their journey by a rising wind. None of our Pacific 

 coast sea birds adhere so closely to established fly lines as the puf- 

 fins. Mr. Anthony tells us {Auk, xiii. 223-228) that ''even when fly- 

 ing fifty miles or more from land the first flock that passes will, with 

 almost absolute certainty, mark the line which the next will follow, 

 even though they be an hour behind." 



Mr. Anthony calls attention to the habit common to different spe- 

 cies of shearwaters of flying in large circles or an advancing series 

 of loops when quartering the sea for small fish, — a flock seen along 

 shore going in the opposite direction from one farther out to sea. 



95. Puffinus griseus (GmeL). Dark-boMed Shearwater. 



Entire plumag'e sooty gray except for white under wing coverts, which 

 are mottled with gray at tips ; bill and feet dusky or black. Wing : 

 11.15-12.00, bill 1.55-1.70, depth of bill at base .45-.55, tarsus 2.12-2.35. 



Distribution. — South Pacific, north along the coast of California, and 

 reported in great numbers from Queen Charlotte Islands, B. C. 



One of the most important results of the valuable work done by 

 Mr. Loomis on the water birds off Monterey is the light thrown on 

 the northward migration of birds from the south temperate zone. 

 The dark-bodied shearwater affords conclusive evidence on the sub- 

 ject. The shearwaters taken at Monterey in May were in worn, 

 moulting plumage, common with birds just after the breeding season ; 

 while their sexual organs showed none of the functional develop- 

 ment of birds about to breed. The migratory movements of these 

 birds increased from May until September, when there was an 

 abrupt decrease in their numbers, only stragglers being seen after- 

 wards. Not only were the September and October birds in fresh 

 plumage, but those secured had their sexual organs enlarged as in 

 birds in the flush of the breeding season. As the shearwaters are 

 known to breed from March to October on oceanic islands in the 

 south temperate zone, the case^seems to be a simple one. 



96.2. Puffinus buUeri >Sa/m'w. New Zealand Shearwater. 



Adults: mantle gray, in striking contrast to black on head, tail, and 

 lesser wing coverts ; greater coverts gray, tipped with white ; outer pri- 

 maries black, with two thirds of inner webs white ; cheeks mottled grayish 

 white ; lower parts and under wing coverts white. Length : 16.50, wing 

 11.30, tail 5.20, bill 2.60. 



Distribution. — New Zealand. One record from Point Pinos, California. 



IVIr. Loomis secured a specimen of Puffinus hulleri about six miles 

 west of Point Pinos, on November 6, 1896. As this was the fourth 

 of the species known to science, and the others had come from New 

 Zealand seas, the record is of great interest, and as pointed out 

 suggests that persistent observation along the Pacific coast may add 

 largely to the list of pelagic wanderers from the southern seas. 



