PROCELLARIID.E — PIWCELLABIIN^ : SHEARWATERS. 785 



832. P. major. (Lat. major, greater.) Greater Shearwater. Wandering Shearwater. 

 C0M510X Atlantic Shearwater. Bill scarcely shorter tliaii liead or tarsus, stt>ut and sub- 

 cylindrical at base, then more and more compressed to tlie strong hook. Nasal tube straight, 

 about J as long as culmen, with widely separated subeUiptical openings. Culmen rising with 

 slight continuous concavity from nostrils to top of the hook; commissure a long regular curve, 

 convex downward, from feathers to curve of the hook. Outline of inferior mandibular rami 

 about straight. Bill about 3 times as long as high at base, not so wide as high. Wings long 

 and pointed ; 1st and 2d primaries nearly eciual. Tail contained about 2^ times in length of 

 wing, much rounded, almost wedged. Tarsus as long as middle toe without claw ; outer toe 

 as long as or longer than middle, but its claw smaller, falling short of tip of middle claw ; tip 

 of inner claw not reaching liase of middle. Above, dark bistre-brown, on head inclining a 

 little to plumbeous or grayish -brown ; usually lighter on hind neck, darkest on tertials and 

 rump ; each feather of back, rump, and wing-coverts, edged with pale brownish-ash or even 

 ashy-whitish. On the head the c(dor uniform, without these light margins, extending below 

 eyes to level of the gape, with distinct line of demarcation from white of the throat. On side 

 of neck the white reaches further around, and is less distinctly outlined; further back, on sides 

 of breast, the dark color encroaches on the white. The upper tail-coverts, especially the long 

 posterior ones, are mostly white, with dark bars on central fields. Primaries brownish-black, 

 lightening on inner webs towards base. Under parts white from chin to anus, with large dark 

 brown patches on flanks; under tail-coverts dark grayish-brown, with whitish tips; lining of 

 wings white, mottled with dark along the border and on ends of axillars. Tail-feathers like 

 primaries. Bill dark blackish horn color ; outside of tarsus and outer toe brownish ; rest of 

 feet and webs yellowish flesh-color ; iris brown. The intensity and uniformity of coloration of 

 the upper parts varies much with age of the plumage. Fresh plumages are deep plumbeous- 

 brown with narrow pale or whitish margins ; old worn feathers are duller brown with broader 

 less distinct grayish-brown edgings. Observe line of demarcation of dark and white on head, 

 neck and breast ; uniform feathers of head ; dark under and partially white upper tail-coverts. 

 Audubon gives ''bill yellowish-green, the tips brownish-black, tinged with green ; feet light 

 greenish-gray, webs and claws yellowish flesh-color." Length 18.00-20.00 ; extent 42.00- 

 45.00; wing about 13.00; tail 5.75, graduated 1.00; tarsus 2.40; middle toe and claw 2.90 ; 

 outer do. 2.75 ; inner do. 2.30 ; chord of culmen 2.00 ; depth of bill at base 0.65, width 0.60. 

 Wanders over the whole Atlantic, Greenland to Cape Horn and Good Hope. Abundant, 

 .sometimes seen in flocks of thousands, shearing the crests of the waves, and skimming the bil- 

 lows with marvellf>us ease, without a visible motion of the pinions. 



833. P. crea'topus. (Gr. xpeay, kreas, flesh, ttous, pous, foot.) Flesh-footed Shearwater. 

 Resembling the last, but quite distinct. Bill short, less than head or tarsus, turgid at base, 

 where as wide as high. Nasal tubes short, hardly \ the length of culmen, turgid, with slight 

 median furrow and very oblique truncation. Frontal feathers running forward on median line. 

 Form otherwise as in P. major. Bill pale yellowish flesh-color, the nasal tubes, culmen, and 

 tip blackish. Feet flesh-colored; claws whitish with brown ends. Upper parts about the 

 same shade of brown as in P. major ; upper tail-coverts entirely dark. No white on inner 

 webs of primaries. On sides of head and neck, the color of the upper parts extends entirely 

 around, without any distinct line of demarcation, the chin and throat mottled with dark and 

 white in about equal amounts. On the sides of the breast the color more restricted than on the 

 neck. Lower eyelid white. Sides of body and lining of wings mottled with dusky and white 

 in about equal amounts ; long axillars entirely dark except just at base. Middle of belly and 

 vent region variegated with dusky and white. Under tail-coverts entirely fuliginous black. 

 "Length 19.00; extent 45.00;" wing 12.50; tail 5.00, graduated 1.00; tarsus 2.10; outer 

 toe and claw 2.50; middle do. 2.05 ; inner do. 2.00; chord of cuhnen 1.60; gape 2.30; height 

 or width of bill at base 0.60 ; nasal tubes 0.40. San Nicholas Island, Coast of Cala. ; a curious 

 species of which little is known. 



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