437 



PUFFINUS. SHEARWATER. 



The Shearwaters are intermediate between the Procel- 

 larife and the Thalassidroma?. They are of rather small 

 size and moderately compact form, with the neck rather 

 short; the head rather large and oblong. The bill about 

 the length of the head, rather slender, nearly as high as 

 broad at the base, much compressed toward the end, slightly 

 recurved, w ith the tips decurved ; upper mandible with two 

 dorsal plates ending abruptly and covering the tubular nos- 

 trils, beyond which the dorsal line is concave, and then 

 convex ; the tip strong, much compressed, decurved, acute ; 

 lower mandible with the angle very long and narrow, the 

 dorsal line decurved, the edges sharp and inflexed, the tip 

 decurved, acute. The feet are rather large ; the tibia bare 

 for a short space ; tarsus compressed, reticulated ; hind toe 

 extremely small, with a conical, deflexed claw ; anterior toes 

 long, slender, their membranes full, the outer toe slightly 

 longer than the third ; claws arched, compressed, acute. 

 Plumage full, close, blended, rather compact above. Wings 

 very long, narrow, pointed, the first quill longest ; tail of 

 moderate length, graduated or rounded, of twelve feathers. 



They difier from the Fulmars in having the bill much 

 more slender, with both points decurved, and the tarsi 

 compressed. 



